Week 3 - Social History of Health, Scientific Medicine, and Social Epidemiology Flashcards
What is social epidemiology
The study of the social causes and social distribution of disease, illness, and other health problems
What is scientific medicine
The use of science to understand the causes and treatment of, and possible cures for, disease and illness –> Reflected in biomedical model
What are the 3 aspects of social epidemiology
Social inequities, social relationships, and social capital
What is the social gradient of health
Those with higher socio-economic status have better health and well-being
What are the 4 major periods of the preindustrial world
Ancient world, medieval world, renaissance, and transitional period
What was healthcare like in ancient civilizations
Health approach was unscientific and disease and illness understood through religious lens
What were the 3 exceptions to healthcare during ancient times
Egypt, greece, and rome
What were the 4 quasi-scientific approaches egypt used to understand health and illness
Used herbs for pains and ailments, recognized worms and parasites could cause intestinal disease, knew that washing could prevent certain health problems, and mummification helped them learn about the body
What was Greece’s scientific approach to healthcare
Rudimentary - Hippocrates –> Believed the world consisted of 4 natural elements which had 4 natural properties
What is hippocrates
The humoral theory of disease
What is the humoral theory of disease
The body had four humors (blood is hot, phlegm is cold, yellow bile is dry, and black bile is wet), all which had to be in proper balance to be healthy, and people became ill when they were unbalanced
What was the roman approach to medicine
Wanted to build on Greek medicine, used herbs for certain medical problems and made pills from them and plants, archeological evidence of use of medical instruments, and knew importance of clean water
What was the 4 characteristics of medicine in the middle ages
Religion dominant explanations for illness and disease, medical practice seen as anti-religon, medical schools in Europe developed by end of the dark ages, late 1340s black death/plague
