Question

According to Singer and Baer, medical anthropology understands "disease" as more than just a "biological phenomena". What additional ways of knowing and understanding disease does medical anthropology propose?

Answer 1

• Final answer:
• Medical anthropology proposes that disease is understood not just as a biological phenomenon but also through its social and cultural dimensions. This includes the social construction of health, the influence of Franz Boas in the foundation of the discipline, and the development of medical anthropology post-World War II through various research methods.
• Step-by-step explanation:
• Medical Anthropology and Understanding of Disease
• According to Singer and Baer, beyond being merely a biological phenomenon, disease encompasses a range of sociocultural factors. Medical anthropology suggests that disease can be understood through various ways of knowing, which include not just the biological aspects, but also the sociocultural experiences and the effects of societal constructions on health and illness. Franz Boas was instrumental in establishing the foundations of medical anthropology by considering the cultural impacts on health.
• Since World War II, medical anthropology has evolved to include various research methods such as ethnography, illness narrative interviews, and health decision-making analysis. The field uses both qualitative and quantitative methods, and has been involved in global health initiatives, influencing health care policy, and improving medical practice through anthropological insights.
• The social construction of health reflects how different cultures perceive and treat diseases, illnesses, and sicknesses. Medical anthropologists study these perceptions and treatments through detailed ethnographic work and analysis of health across cultures.