Medical Anthropology
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Medical anthropology is a branch of anthropology that “studies the human experience of disease in cross-cultural, historical, and evolutionary perspective” (Joralemon, 2010, ix). This helps build upon and connect the biological and cultural studies of human beings. Medical anthropology focuses on how society understands and responds to diseases on a cultural level. "It encourages us to consider biological and cultural perspectives on diseases, and even to ask how much culture influences what we consider "biological" (Joralemon, 2010, 131).
Background
The applied roots of Medical Anthropology came about in the aftermath of WWII, when the US sought to extend its influence in the world via foreign assistance programs modeled after the successful Marshall plan that helped rebuild war devastated Europe. Often these campaigns failed because of "cultural obstacles" and anthropologist were soon being utilized in order to identify and remove the cultural impediments that were impeding the sucess of these projects. "The invovlement of anthropologist as cultural experts on international health campaigns directed new attention to disease and healing as subjects for anthropological anaylsis" (Joralemon, 2010, p.9).
Here is a Youtube video that discusses Medical Anthropology and the dynamics of cultural studies in effective health research.