Lecture 1 The role of sociology in understanding h

Introduction to the Sociology of Health : Introduction to the Sociology of Health Lecture 1 The role of sociology in understanding health


A sociological perspective : A sociological perspective The analytic power of sociology stems from examining closely the deep structures and power relations that underlie the rhetorics and practices of individuals, groups and organisations by assuming a radical disengagement from them. Hughes & Light (2005)


Factors in Health & Illness:A simplified model : Factors in Health & Illness: A simplified model Bio-Genetic Factors Cultural & Behavioural Factors Individual Health and Illness Environmental Factors Political Social & Economic Factors


Bio-genetic factors 1 : Bio-genetic factors 1 Key areas: Sex, Race, Questions: Are gender differentials in health and mortality immutable and inevitable? (Doyal, 1994) Is the concept of biological race useful in understanding sub-population differences in health ? (Nazroo, 1998)


Bio-genetic factors 2 : Bio-genetic factors 2 Key areas Inherited disorders and vulnerabilities Disability Aging populations Questions What are the ethical issues surrounding screening for inherited disorders? (Ettore, 2002, Lupton, 1995 ) Does disability necessarily equal disadvantage?(Oliver, 1996) What are the implications of a shift from ‘healing’ to ‘managing’? (MacNamara, 1998)


Cultural Factors : Cultural Factors Key Areas Lay explanations of health & illness Patient-professional interaction The ‘culture’ of medicine Questions How do lay understandings of illness affect medical outcomes (Blaxter, 1993 Herzlich, 1973) How are interactions patterned in a medical setting? (Friedson, 1970, Jeffrey, 1995 Lupton, 1997) How is medical power institutionalised? (Foucault, 1973, Goffman, 1970)


Political Social & Economic Factors 1 : Political Social & Economic Factors 1 Key areas Public health and private care Rationing health Inequalities in health Questions How do public and private health systems compare? (Green, 1988; Wren, 2004 ) Is rationing of health care inevitable in a capitalist system? (Hughes & Light , 2002) Is a ‘free market’ capable of providing health for all ? (Navarro, 1978)


Political Social & Economic Factors 2 : Political Social & Economic Factors 2 Key Areas Evaluation & assessment of clinical practice The politics of evidence based medicine (EBM) Questions How do we evaluate health care? (Baker & Kirk, 1996) Is EBM a scientific legitimation of ‘managerialism’? (Harrison, 1998)


Environmental Factors : Environmental Factors Key Areas Toxic environments Risk Assessment ‘Popular’ epidemiology Questions ‘Shoe leather epidemiology’ vs the ‘magic bullet’ (Goldstein & Goldstein, 1986) When does a ‘health hazard’ become a ‘health risk’? (Brown, 1995 Smith & Goldblatt, 2000) Is lay epidemiology anti-science? (Wing, 1994)