Anthropology in the News Medical Anthropology and Biocultural Approaches

Illness ______________________________ Disease _______________________________ Wellness Some cultures _______________________

 1990’s = _________________________________  Ex. Farmer’s work as an MD & anthropologist  “illness narratives” = your story, your words, your experience with illness  2000 = Using _________________as a tool to examine _______________________  ________________

Medical Anthropology: Cholera

What is cholera? Infectious __________________ Transmission - Occurs through ingesting _________________________

Medical Anthropology: Cholera

Originally ____________________________ _________________likely serving as a contamination reservoir. The disease spread by _____________to Russia, then W. Europe, and finally N. America. Today Not a high concern health threat in ____________ Heavily affects populations in ________________

Medical Anthropology: Cholera in Haiti Paul Farmer and colleagues: Information available at

Medical Anthropology: Cholera in Haiti

Anthropological Study of AIDS Background: Infancy – late 1980s early 1990s AIDS and Anthropology Research Group – 1987 Western and non-western cultures

Anthropological Study of AIDS China Haiti South Africa Paul Farmer

Anthropological Study of AIDS Renaud’s study Legal (registered) prostitute community & non-prostitute community Kaolack, Senegal Worked from a local health clinic

Anthropological Research and AIDS Prior knowledge about research starting: Approximately ______________________ in Kaolack were HIV positive Renaud’s research  ___________________________________  ____________________________________

Anthropological Research and AIDS Information Gathered:  A high % of prostitutes ________________with clients  In their relationships, ________________________  Non-prostitutes also reported being reluctant to _____________________________________

Anthropological Research and AIDS Renaud’s conclusion from her research: Women did “_________________ _____________________________” Asking their partners to ______ ___________________________

Anthropological Research and AIDS Research has found links between: Local sociocultural processes that create a risk environment for infection AND Lifeworlds of sufferers to the global political economy Heavy focus on Africa Information taken from: Schoeph, BG. (2001). Critical Perspective on the Crisis. Annual Review of Anthropology 30:

Anthropological Research and AIDS Information taken from: Schoeph, BG. (2001). Critical Perspective on the Crisis. Annual Review of Anthropology 30:

Anthropological Research and AIDS Worldwide, impact of HIV/AIDS is similar for men and women Sub-Saharan Africa, ______________________ Why does AIDS affect more women in this region?

Anthropological Research and AIDS Through 1990s publically denied AIDS as a viral infection – internationally rejected AIDS as a viral infection 1.