Social Science and Public Health Jeannine Coreil, PhD College of Public Health University of South Florida
Key Points Deep roots in public health Growing relevance and contributions Theory and methods development Anthropological perspectives Critical lens needed Positivism, “riskfactorology” Shift focus to social structure and organizational culture
Important Milestones Mid-19 th century:Public health defined as “social science” Late-19 th century: Sanitary Movement 1948: WHO defines health to include mental and social well-being 1950s: Anthropology applied to “medical modernization”
Important Milestones II 1958: Publication of the “Health Belief Model” 1962: U.S. Surgeon General’s Report on smoking and health 1978: Alma Ata Conference on Primary Health Care 1986: Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion
Important Milestones III 1980s: Child Survival Initiative 1980s: HIV/AIDS pandemic 1980s: Public health training incorporates social science 1990s: Structural readjustment 2005: Bangkok Charter for Health Promotion Ongoing: Paradigm shifts
Seminal Developments Epidemiologic transitions Maturation of field: Social Science & Medicine, 1966 TDR, 1975 Development agencies New paradigm – multilevel framework
Theoretical Perspectives Social Ecology Health Promotion Interpretive Studies Critical Perspectives
Key Concepts Knowledge and attitudes Health behaviour Culture Social environment
Methodologic Development Survey methods Epidemiologic techniques Statistical tools Qualitative research Participatory methods Narrative studies Mixed methods
Intervention Strategies Community-based approaches Policy and advocacy Social marketing Planning models Primary, secondary & tertiary prevention
Future Directions Social science of public health Critical perspectives Policy and advocacy Organizational culture Social structure Social justice, health disparities Insider and outsider perspectives
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