136-210 Applied Medical Anthropology: Modern and Traditional Health Care in Developing Areas

Note

Available as 136-310 at 3rd-year level.

Credit Points

Semester

Contact

Subject Description

Subject examines the social, economic, political and other influences on the practice of biomedical science and the delivery of health care in developing areas as well as the effects of local attitudes, beliefs, values and knowledge on the reception of health care. Emphasis will be on areas of potential conflict and cooperation between modern and traditional health care systems and on what practical steps can be taken by social and medical scientists and medical practitioners working together to understand and then improve local conditions in order to achieve better health outcomes. Examples and case studies will be drawn from Asia, Africa, Latin America, and from Aboriginal communities in Australia.

Assessment

Two one-hour tests and a term essay totalling 3,000 words.