Robert Pool, Wenzel Geissler
(London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine., London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.)

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About the book | About the authors | Table of contents

About the book

Medical anthropology is playing an increasingly important role in public health. This book provides an introduction to the basic concepts, approaches and theories used, and shows how these contribute to understanding complex health related behaviour. Public health policies and interventions are more likely to be effective if the beliefs and behaviour of people are understood and taken into account. The book examines: Concepts of culture Medical systems Patient's experience of illness and treatment The use of medicines and healing practices Public health and medical research Examples of particular health problems, such as HIV and malaria, are used to show how an anthropological approach can contribute to both a better understanding of health and illness and to more culturally compatible public health measures.

About the authors

Robert Pool and Wenzel Geissler are Senior Lecturers in Social Anthropology at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

Table of contents

Overview of the book Anthropology and culture Anthropological perspectives Approaches to medical anthropology Medical systems and medical syncretism Interpreting and explaining sickness Situating sickness and health The relationship between anthropology and biomedicine Substances of power Local and global medicines Cultures, persons, bodies Medical research Health interventions as a field of social practice Index