Health and Medicine Sociology, 12th Edition by John Macionis Copyright  2008 Prentice Hall, a division of Pearson Education. All rights reserved.

A state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being Health A state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being Health is as much a social as a biological issue. Patterns of well-being and illness are rooted in social organization. Sociology, 12th Edition by John Macionis Copyright  2008 Prentice Hall, a division of Pearson Education. All rights reserved.

Health and Society Cultural patterns define health. Cultural standards of health change over time. A society’s technology affects people’s health. Social inequality affects people’s health. Sociology, 12th Edition by John Macionis Copyright  2008 Prentice Hall, a division of Pearson Education. All rights reserved.

Health: A Global Survey Health in low-income countries Relatively short life expectancy Most die before reaching their teens. Poor sanitation is a killer. 10% of children die within a year of birth. Health in high-income countries By the early 20th century, death rates from infectious diseases had fallen sharply. Now chronic illnesses cause most deaths, usually in old age. Sociology, 12th Edition by John Macionis Copyright  2008 Prentice Hall, a division of Pearson Education. All rights reserved.

Who Is Healthy? Social epidemiology–The study of how health and disease are distributed throughout a society’s population Factors include: Age Gender Social class Race Sociology, 12th Edition by John Macionis Copyright  2008 Prentice Hall, a division of Pearson Education. All rights reserved.

Age & Gender Death is now rare among young people. Across the life course, women fare better than men. Our cultural conception of masculinity pressures men. Sociology, 12th Edition by John Macionis Copyright  2008 Prentice Hall, a division of Pearson Education. All rights reserved.

Social Class and Race Higher income and wealth boosts health: better nutrition better health care safer and less stressful surroundings Infant mortality Twice as high for disadvantaged children as for children born into privileged families. Poorest US children are as vulnerable to disease as those in low-income nations Sociology, 12th Edition by John Macionis Copyright  2008 Prentice Hall, a division of Pearson Education. All rights reserved.

Cigarette Smoking Most preventable health hazard By 2004, only 21% of Americans smoke Smokers: Divorced, separated, unemployed, in the military, and less schooling 440,000 people die prematurely each year as a direct result of smoking Exceeding the combined deaths from alcohol, cocaine, heroin, homicide, suicide, auto accidents, and AIDS Sociology, 12th Edition by John Macionis Copyright  2008 Prentice Hall, a division of Pearson Education. All rights reserved.

Eating Disorders An intense form of dieting or other unhealthy methods of weight control driven by the desire to be very thin 95% of those suffering from anorexia and bulimia are white, affluent women. Research: Most college-age women believe that “guys like thin girls.” Most men express more satisfaction with their body shape. Sociology, 12th Edition by John Macionis Copyright  2008 Prentice Hall, a division of Pearson Education. All rights reserved.

Obesity Two-thirds of adults are overweight. Obesity can limit physical activity and raises the risk of serious diseases Odds of being overweight go up among people with lower incomes Social causes of obesity Lack of physical activity Poor diet Sociology, 12th Edition by John Macionis Copyright  2008 Prentice Hall, a division of Pearson Education. All rights reserved.

Sexually Transmitted Diseases 1960s sexual revolution saw a rise in STD rates, generated sexual counter-revolution Because our culture associates sex with sin, some people regard STDs as marks of immorality. Gonorrhea & syphilis Genital herpes AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) Sociology, 12th Edition by John Macionis Copyright  2008 Prentice Hall, a division of Pearson Education. All rights reserved.

Ethics & Death When does death occur? When an irreversible state involving no response to stimulation, no movement or breathing, no reflexes, and no indication of brain activity Do people have the right to die? 10,000 Americans are in a permanent “vegetative state.” What about mercy killing? Euthanasia–Assisting in the death of a person suffering from an incurable disease Active euthanasia–Allowing a physician to help a sick person die Sociology, 12th Edition by John Macionis Copyright  2008 Prentice Hall, a division of Pearson Education. All rights reserved.

The Medical Establishment Medicine–The social institution that focuses on fighting disease and improving health. The rise of scientific medicine American Medical Association founded in 1847 Other healers kept tradition but occupy lesser role. Chiropractors, herbalists, midwives Conflict between scientific medicine and traditional healing continues today. Sociology, 12th Edition by John Macionis Copyright  2008 Prentice Hall, a division of Pearson Education. All rights reserved.

Holistic Medicine Holistic medicine–An approach to health care that emphasizes prevention of illness and takes into account a person’s entire physical and social environment Three foundations of holistic health care: Treat patients as people Encourage responsibility, not dependency Provide personal treatment Sociology, 12th Edition by John Macionis Copyright  2008 Prentice Hall, a division of Pearson Education. All rights reserved.

Medicine in Socialist Nations China Government controls most health care operations. “Barefoot doctors” in rural areas practice traditional healing arts. Russian Federation Medical care is in transition, but all citizens have a right to basic medical care. Setbacks in health care, partly because of a falling standard of living Sociology, 12th Edition by John Macionis Copyright  2008 Prentice Hall, a division of Pearson Education. All rights reserved.

Medicine in Capitalist Societies Sweden Socialized medicine–A medical care system in which the government owns and operates most medical facilities and employs most physicians Great Britain Also has socialized medicine, but citizens may choose public or private health care. Canada Single-payer model; government is like an insurance company Japan Doctors operate privately, but government pays most expenses. Sociology, 12th Edition by John Macionis Copyright  2008 Prentice Hall, a division of Pearson Education. All rights reserved.

Paying for Care in the U.S. Direct fee system–Medical care system in which patients pay directly for the services of physicians and hospitals Private insurance: Few programs pay all costs. Public insurance programs Medicare for those over 65 Medicaid for impoverished and veterans Health maintenance organizations–An organization that provides comprehensive medical care to subscribers for a fixed fee No HMO provides full coverage Sociology, 12th Edition by John Macionis Copyright  2008 Prentice Hall, a division of Pearson Education. All rights reserved.

Nursing Shortage Shortage of nurses as fewer people enter the profession Nurses cite heavy patient loads, too much overtime, stressful work environment, lack of respect. Working nurses say they wouldn’t recommend the field to others. Sociology, 12th Edition by John Macionis Copyright  2008 Prentice Hall, a division of Pearson Education. All rights reserved.

Theoretical Analysis Structural-functional analysis: Parsons’ role theory Sick role–Patterns of behavior defined as appropriate for people who are ill Doctors expect patients to cooperate. Social-conflict analysis: Health and inequality Access to medical care, the effects of the profit motive, and the politics of medicine Sociology, 12th Edition by John Macionis Copyright  2008 Prentice Hall, a division of Pearson Education. All rights reserved.

Theoretical Analysis Symbolic-interaction analysis: Meaning of health Ideas of health and stress are socially constructed. How people define a condition may actually affect how they feel. Surgery can affect social identity. Sociology, 12th Edition by John Macionis Copyright  2008 Prentice Hall, a division of Pearson Education. All rights reserved.

Future of Health and Medicine Today, Americans take good health and long life for granted. Individuals taking responsibility of their own health Double standard of health between rich and poor people Health problems are greater in low-income countries. Sociology, 12th Edition by John Macionis Copyright  2008 Prentice Hall, a division of Pearson Education. All rights reserved.