Chapter 2 Illness and the Health Care Crisis The Global Context: Patterns of Health and Disease HIV/AIDS: A Global Health Concern Mental Illness: The Invisible Epidemic

Chapter 2 Illness and the Health Care Crisis Sociological Theories of Illness and Health Care Social Factors Associated With Health and Illness Problems in U.S. Health Care Strategies for Action: Improving Health and Health Care

Life Expectancy: 2000 Japan - 81 years France - 79 years U.S years Congo - 49 years Angola - 35 years

Leading Causes of Death Worldwide - infectious and parasitic diseases. U.S. - heart disease, cancer, stroke U.S. youths - nearly 3/4 of deaths result from motor-vehicle crashes, unintentional injuries, homicide, and suicide.

HIV/AIDS: A Global Concern Transmission: Sexual intercourse Sharing unclean intravenous needles From infected mother to fetus Blood transfusions or blood products Breast-milk

HIV/AIDS in the U.S. Leading cause of death among African American men ages 25 to 44. At least half of new infections are among people under age 25. Nearly half of HIV cases are among females.

Mental Illness 40% of Americans will experience a mental disorder in their lifetime. Nearly 25% of U.S. adults suffer from mental disorders or substance abuse disorders. In 1998, major depression was the leading cause of disability in developed nations.

Structural-Functionalist Perspective Health care functions to maintain well-being of individuals and society. High cost of medical care is necessary to entice people into medical profession. HIV/AIDS helped unite and mobilize gay rights activists.

Conflict Perspective Focuses on how wealth, status, and power influence illness and health care. Lack of status and power affects the health of women in many societies.

Symbolic Interactionist Perspective Focuses on how meanings, definitions, and labels influence health care. Illness and disease are conditions that society defines as illness or disease. There are stigmatizing effects of being labeled as ill.

Poverty and Health Poverty is the world’s leading health problem. Associated with: unsanitary living conditions. hazardous working conditions. lack of access to medical care. onadequate nutrition.

Gender and Health One in three women has been beaten, coerced into sex, or abused. In some societies, boys receive more medical treatment than girls. Men are less likely than women to seek medical care.

Problems In U.S. Health Care In 2000, World Health Organization ranked the U.S. health care system 37th out of 191. Problems include: High cost of medical care and insurance. Unequal access to health care. Inadequate mental health care.

Health Insurance Coverage 1999: 15.5% of U.S. population had no medical insurance for the entire year. 32.4% of U.S. poor had no insurance during the entire year.