Sociology of Health and Medicine
Contents: I. Theories and Methods in Sociology of Health and Medicine: 1. Sociology of Health and Medicine. 2 Health and its Dimensions. 3. Scope of Sociology of Health and Medicine. 4. Approaches in Health and Medicine. 5. Methodologies in Health and Medicine. II. Concept and Management in Health Care: 6. Social and Preventive Medicine. 7. Public Health: Concepts and Vital Statistics. 8. Community Health and Medicine. 9. Social Epidemiology: Cause of Diseases and their Changing Patterns. 10. Determinants and Promotion of Health. 11. Risk Management, Perception and Communication in Health Care.III. Systems of Medicine, Hospital and Social Relationship: 12. Systems of Medicine and Medical Pluralism in India..13. Hospital as a Social System. 14. Physician-Patient Relationship. 15. Drugs, Pharmaceuticals and Health Care in India. IV. Health Delivery Systems in India: 16. Delivery of Public Health Care in India. 17. Rural Health Care in India. 18. Urban Health Care in India. 19. Privatization of Health Care in India. 20. NGOs and Social Work in Health Care. V. Health Policy, Planning and Development: 21. History of Health Care in India. 22. Health Policy in India: Retrospect and Prospect..23. Health Inequalities in Social Groups. 24. Globalization and Health Care. 25. Indian Constitution and Health Rights. 26. Ethics in Health Care. VI. Emerging Issues in Health Care: 27. Reproductive Health Care..28. Environment and Health. 29 .Food, Nutrition and Health. 30. Technology in Medicine and Health Care. 31 Health Insurance. 32. Medical and Health Tourism in India.
The book not only addresses postgraduate students but all those who intend to research in the area of sociology of health and medicine. The content and organization of this book are designed to set it apart from other textbooks in medical sociology while retaining its anchor in the mainstream of general sociology. A basic premise underlies this book, namely that the institutions of medicine are a public resource and not the private property of those who practice it. Among the central themes discussed are: approaches and concepts in health care, systems of medicine, physician-patient relationships, health delivery system, health inequality, health policy, health ethics and rights, reproductive rights, environment and health, health technology and health insurance.
Each section deals with a basic dimension of health and society, emphasizing the dilemmas and contradictions in attempting to view medicine as public resource.
The values, rights and ethical choices faced by the users vis-à-vis the structure of medicine is emphasized throughout. In addition, there’s reference to current trends and studies in sociology of health and medicine, retaining the threads of development in the field over the past 40 years. Each chapter is followed by comprehensive readings dealing with the subject. Pedagogical aim of this book is to offer content and a format that will serve as a framework for expanding the topic further.
This volume fills a long-felt gap by reviewing some of the most important and consequential issues in sociology of health. It will be of interest to sociologists, anthropologists, historians, social workers, as well as to legal scholars, health practitioners and policy makers. (jacket)
