Development of Sociology of Health: a review of the contexts and phases, themes and future in India

2012 ◽  
pp. 89-115
Author(s):  
Mohammad Akram

Health is multi-dimensional and its determinants are not just bio-medical, but also socio-cultural and politico-administrative. Sociology of health developed in twentieth century as a specialized branch of sociology to address the widening health needs of human population. Sociology of health in India passed through several phases and complemented as well incorporated disciplines often identified as medical sociology and sociology of medicine. Parsonian system theory, interactionist perspective, conflict approach, phenomenological approach and empiricism have lasting impact on various researches conducted in India in last six decades. This paper is analytical in nature and focuses on four aspects: (i) development of sociology of health as an independent branch of sociology; (ii) three phases of its development in India; (iii) contexts and popular themes; and (iv) its future.

2012 ◽  
pp. 95-122
Author(s):  
Mohammad Akram

Health is multi-dimensional and its determinants are not just bio-medical, but also socio-cultural and politico-administrative. Sociology of health developed in twentieth century as a specialized branch of sociology to address the widening health needs of human population. Sociology of health in India passed through several phases and complemented as well incorporated disciplines often identified as medical sociology and sociology of medicine. Parsonian system theory, interactionist perspective, conflict approach, phenomenological approach and empiricism have lasting impact on various researches conducted in India in last six decades. This paper is analytical in nature and focuses on four aspects: (i) development of sociology of health as an independent branch of sociology; (ii) three phases of its development in India; (iii) contexts and popular themes; and (iv) its future.


Author(s):  
George Pattison

This chapter sets out the rationale for adopting a phenomenological approach to the devout life literature. Distinguishing the present approach from versions of the phenomenology of religion dominant in mid-twentieth-century approaches to religion, an alternative model is found in Heidegger’s early lectures on Paul. These illustrate that alongside its striving to achieve a maximally pure intuition of its subject matter, phenomenology will also be necessarily interpretative and existential. Although phenomenology is limited to what shows itself and therefore cannot pass judgement on the existence of God, it can deal with God insofar as God appears within the activity and passivity of human existence. From Hegel onward, it has also shown itself open to seeing the self as twofold and thus more than a simple subjective agent, opening the way to an understanding of the self as essentially spiritual.


Author(s):  
Cathy G. Bettman ◽  
Alexander Digiacomo

Abstract Currently, Australia’s school counsellors are increasingly being called upon to respond to adolescent mental health needs. Through semistructured interviews with seven school counsellors working with adolescents, this qualitative study aimed to capture the lived experiences of this group of practitioners. By adopting a phenomenological approach and using thematic analysis, this study provides insight into their profession: the current ambiguity surrounding their role; the opportunities and obstacles they face; as well as the often-present tension between stakeholders including parents, other school staff and external agencies. The findings of this study indicate that school counsellors are challenged by the need to be advocates not only for their students but also for themselves and their roles within the school context.


2021 ◽  
pp. 104973232110503
Author(s):  
Shenae Calleja ◽  
Jonathan Kingsley ◽  
Fakir M Amirul Islam ◽  
Rachael McDonald

Autistic adults have higher health needs compared to most, yet they continue to experience barriers to accessing appropriate healthcare. Presently, no qualitative research exists exploring these barriers which impact overall physical and mental health. We conducted a qualitative analysis in Victoria (Australia) of the perceived experiences of healthcare access for autistic adults ( n = 9) and primary caregivers of autistic adults ( n = 7). Specifically, a three-staged phenomenological approach was applied involving: (i) a communicative checklist, (ii) a health status survey and (iii) face-to-face interviews. Elements such as support, responsibilities and protective factors exhibited by caregivers, may impact healthcare access for autistic adults. Results indicate the need for further research exploring interdependent factors that impact healthcare access by caregivers, so evidence-based interventions can be developed to support caregivers in the future.


2012 ◽  
pp. 73-88
Author(s):  
Zofia Slonska ◽  
Wlodzimierz Piatkowski

There is no doubt that the specificity of the country political context of the early 1950s contributed to the delay of the Polish medical sociology development. In 1951 as a result of the political decision, practicing sociology as an official scientific discipline, was prohibited. Its resurgence came after 1956. The growing domestic and international position of the Polish sociology enabled to initiate not only the activity of the general sociology but also the activity of its subdisciplines, including the medical sociology. The process of institutionalization of medical sociology in Poland has started since the beginning of 1960s. Its founder was a prominent medical sociologist Magdalena Sokolowska. Taking into account the existence of the strong connections of the Polish medical sociology both with medicine and the general sociology we can speak about its double identity. That feature of it decided about its specificity in European countries. Magdalena Sokolowska named it "intellectual hybrid". The subject of the article is the process of institutionalization and transformation of the Polish medical sociology since the beginning in the early 1960s until nowadays, in the international context.


2012 ◽  
pp. 42-59
Author(s):  
Elianne Riska

This review examines three stages in the development of the sociology of health and medicine in Scandinavia. First, it describes the early adoption of the Parsonian approach as part of mainstream Scandinavian medical sociology. Second, it shows that the international feminist critique of medicine became only partially integrated at the time into the views on gender and health in Scandinavian health studies. Third, from the mid-1980s onwards Scandinavian medical sociologists have mainly conducted public health/social epidemiology research as part of an effort to map and explain the continuing health inequalities in the Scandinavian welfare states. The conclusion ponders whether the current development has weakened the distinctive feature of medical sociology - its ties to social theory.


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