Ch 13 Health and Health care

Health

It refers to the extent of a person's physical, mental, and social well-being

It is a complex and multidimensional concept

How does social class, race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, etc. influence health and health care?

Medicine and Health care

Medicine refers to the social institution that seeks to prevent, diagnose, and treat illness and to promote health its various dimensions

Health care refers to the provision of medical services to prevent diagnose, and tread health problems

In what ways, does medicine and health care perpepuate inequalities?

Social Epidemiology

It refers to the study of how health and illness vary by sociodemographics in regards to health

Health and illness both reflect and reinforce society's social inequalities

Poor and Black people (other POC too) and men have worse health

Factors are stress, living conditions, lack of health care, lack of education, and unhealthy lifestyles

Health care

Most industrialize nations have universal health care

The U.S. is the only one that does not

We have private insurances and many can't afford that

Fee for service model --> providers can charge whatever they want

Sociological Perspectives

Functionalism sees good health and effective medical care are essential for the smooth function of society

Conflict theory sees social inequalities embedded in the health care and medical industries. People from disadvantaged social backgrounds are more likely to become ill and to receive poor health care.

Symbolic interaction believes health and illness are social constructions. These conditions are defined by society.

Improving Health and Health care

U.S needs universal health care

Need to address racial and gender bias in industry

Need to address tired physicians, lack of emergency room physicians, and numerous mistakes made in hospitals