Description
MEDICAL ANTHROPOLOGY
Book summary
In a world where medical and biotechnological advances are increasingly remarkable, a paradox arises: the need for social theories that allow us to rethink health and illness in contexts of inequality and diversity. This book offers a comprehensive journey through the different theories of Medical Anthropology, from its origins as a specialty to the most current debates. The reader will find an essential guide to understanding how cultural, social, and political factors influence the experience of illness, healing practices, and health systems.
What is it about?
The work maps the intellectual landscape of Medical Anthropology, exploring its theoretical evolution and contemporary relevance. Throughout its pages, the main currents of thought that have shaped this discipline are analyzed, from early approaches to the most critical and reflective perspectives. It examines how medicine, far from being a purely technical field, is deeply embedded in social structures, power relations, and cultural worldviews. The book invites us to question biomedical certainties and to consider health as a biopsychosocial phenomenon, where cultural diversity and global inequality play a central role. It is, in short, a tool to understand why, in the 21st century, we still need to rethink illness beyond the laboratory.
Main topics
- History and development of Medical Anthropology as an academic discipline.
- Critical analysis of biomedical models and their relationship with sociocultural contexts.
- Relationship between health, illness, and structures of power and inequality.
- Cultural diversity in conceptions of health, illness, and healing.
- Contemporary debates on biotechnology, medicalization, and the globalization of health.
Who is it recommended for?
This book is aimed at students and professionals in Anthropology, Sociology, Medicine, Nursing, and other health sciences who wish to understand the social and cultural dimensions of their practice. It is also of great interest to researchers, teachers, and any reader interested in current debates on public health, cultural diversity, and health policy. It is a fundamental work for those seeking a critical and humanistic perspective on contemporary medicine.
What this book contributes
- A panoramic and updated view of the main theories of Medical Anthropology.
- Conceptual tools to critically analyze medical practice and health systems.
- Keys to understanding how culture and society shape the experience of illness.
- A frame of reference for addressing cultural diversity in healthcare contexts.
- A necessary reflection on the paradoxes of medicine in an unequal world.
Technical specifications
- Author: MARTINEZ HERNAEZ, ANGEL
- Publisher: ANTHROPOS EDITORIAL
- Language: Spanish
- Subject: Society and culture: general, Anthropology, Social and cultural anthropology, Ethnography, Social services and welfare, Criminology, Politics and government, Medicine, Medicine: general issues, Preclinical medicine: basic sciences, Clinical and internal medicine, Other branches of medicine, Surgery, Nursing and auxiliary services, Study and revision guides and reference material, Complementary medicine
- Collection: No collection
- Number of pages: 207
- Weight: 242 g
Editorial review
This is a reference work for those who wish to delve into the intersection between medicine and the social sciences. Its value lies in its ability to synthesize a broad theoretical journey without losing critical depth, offering the reader the necessary tools to understand the current challenges of health in contexts of diversity and inequality. It is essential reading for professionals and students who seek a more human and contextualized vision of medical practice.