Sociology of Medicine

How do social factors affect our health, the medical care we receive, and the medical institution?

Symbolic Interactionism
Each society and culture defines what is considered a medical problem, which has long term effects on the society. Our culture can put us at risk for particular medical problems. For example, Vietnamese American women are at an increased risk of cervical cancer due to cultural norms. Recent studies show that 43% of Vietnamese American women will have cervical cancer compared to 7.5% of white women. Vietnamese American women have the highest cervical cancer rates and the lowest cervical cancer screening rates (36% of Vietnamese American women have never had a pap smear compared to 5% of white women). Note: other Asian American women have much higher screening rates and lower cancer rates than their Vietnamese counterparts. Research has indicated why these women have low screening rates. Many Vietnamese groups do not subscribe to the idea of preventative care…a person only goes to the doctor when he or she is really sick…and preventative care is a luxury in Vietnam. There is also a misconception about screenings…many unmarried women are told that the screening will ruin their virginity. Other screening barriers are: poverty, language barriers, lack of education, and inadequate healthcare. (Image courtesy of amenic181/FreeDigitalPhotos.net)

Another example is the high suicide rates for Asian American women age 65 and older (significantly higher than elderly black, Latina, and white women). These high suicide rates can be attributed to a few things. These women experience devastating changes in their cultural and social roles after they immigrate to the U.S. How do you think these women were viewed in their country compared to how we view the elderly in this country? How are they treated differently? Another important factor is the limited use of mental health for many Asian Americans. Mental health is seen as a sign of weakness and brings shame to the family.

Do you see how culture can affect our health?

There are also GENDER differences when it comes to defining illness and preventative care. Who goes to the doctor more, men or women? Why? Does this mean that women are sicker? Or are they hypochondriacs? J Men must be healthier if women are always going to the doctor, right? Actually, no, women are healthier and make better use of preventative care. When I worked in the medical field I would see women come in stating that they have had the medical problem for a week or so. When men would come in they would say they have had the problem for a year. So, we would ask them what made them finally decide to come in and many would state that their wives made them!

Structural Functionalism
What is the functionalist perspective of health and medicine? What is the sick role? Why is it functional to heal people?

Conflict Theory
What is the conflict perspective of health and medicine? What role does stratification and access to healthcare play in our health? What are some of the social factors that put us at increased risk for certain diseases and illnesses?

PLAYING FIELD
How is our health and the healthcare we receive part of our playing field? Social and environmental factors affect our health (poverty, culture, and mental health for example). A few playing field issues:

Cancer
We are not all equally likely to get cancer. One example is that our race can determine what types of cancers we are more likely to get. Genetics also plays a role in whether or not we will get cancer. So, if most of the females in our family have had breast cancer it is a negative playing field for us. Also our social class plays a role in whether or not our cancer is treated and cured.

SMOKING and Cancer
Study#1: Women who lived with a man (husband or boyfriend) who smoked (the women did not smoke) were more likely to get cervical cancer. Researchers were confused at first as we would think that these women would be more likely to get lung cancer due to second hand smoke in the air. The finding was this, carcinogens are transmitted from hands to other items (like door handles, etc.) so they looked at the transfer of carcinogens from the men’s hands to other things. So, how many of you males wash your hands after you go to the restroom? I hope all of youJ, but how many of you wash your hands before you go to the restroom? Well, hopefully you will now! They found that the men smoked cigarettes, carcinogens were then on their hands, then they went to the restroom, carcinogens were then passed on to their penises, then later they had intercourse with their wives, and the researchers then tested these women’s cervix’s and found that they had carcinogens on their cervix’s! This is the most amazing study I have ever read…and eye opening too…I am now a “germaphobe”!

Study#2: There were a group of football players who were failing their high school endurance tests for no medical reason, they thought. Well, it turns out that these football players lived with a parent who smoked, or in some cases both parents smoked. The football players themselves did not smoke…yet! Have you seen that commercial where a baby is playing and the parent is smoking and blowing smoke right on the baby!

Is smoking also part of social learning theory?

HEART DISEASE
It has been found that those who have crooked teeth are more likely to have heart disease. What happens is the plaque is very hard to get out of crooked teeth and when we swallow plaque it causes heart disease. So, it is your playing field if you were born with straight teeth (lucky you)! Also, who is more likely to have braces and acquire straight teeth (they are not cheap)? So, our social class can play a role.

OBESITY
Recent data shows that 31% of people in the U.S. and 23% of Californians are obese. The fastest growing group of individuals who are obese in this country are children. If an individual is obese by ten years old it is very likely that he or she will be obese for the remainder or most of his or her life. There are major health issues involved in obesity such as heart disease, diabetes, greater risk for strokes, as well as negative social factors as many stereotype these individuals as well as treat them poorly. Think about how social class plays a role? Look at the foods those in poverty eat. Also, if I do not live in a safe neighborhood I am less likely to play outside and have a park to play at. What is our society (the institutions in our society) doing about the obesity problem?

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