Anthropology
To begin, medical anthropology is a subfield of the entire study of Anthropology. Anthropology is the study of humans and how they act. Medical Anthropology draws upon social, cultural, biological and linguistic anthropology so that they can better understand what influences a persons' health and well-being.(Bruna 2009) You may also approach the study through different theoretical approaches. Medical Anthropologists study a wide variety of issues. Some of those issues include the political economy of health care and a range of factors that drive health, nutrition and health care transitions.The subfield of medical anthropology can be further broken down into applied medical anthropology and critical medical anthropology. These fields are used to help bridge the gap that lies between culture and biomedicine. I will further discuss both applied and critical medical anthropology in relation to Lia Lee in The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down by Anne Fadiman. I will also discuss cultural competency and its importance.
To begin, medical anthropology is a subfield of the entire study of Anthropology. Anthropology is the study of humans and how they act. Medical Anthropology draws upon social, cultural, biological and linguistic anthropology so that they can better understand what influences a persons' health and well-being.(Bruna 2009) You may also approach the study through different theoretical approaches. Medical Anthropologists study a wide variety of issues. Some of those issues include the political economy of health care and a range of factors that drive health, nutrition and health care transitions.The subfield of medical anthropology can be further broken down into applied medical anthropology and critical medical anthropology. These fields are used to help bridge the gap that lies between culture and biomedicine. I will further discuss both applied and critical medical anthropology in relation to Lia Lee in The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down by Anne Fadiman. I will also discuss cultural competency and its importance.
In this video he discusses what medical anthropology is the importance of recognizing how beliefs affect behavior and he gives some examples.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NjDPwF9uV58 (video 1)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NjDPwF9uV58 (video 1)