TodayMeasuring HealthHealth in the U.S.Health Globally

Illness continued

The Symbolic Interactionist Perspective

We attach labels (some very negative) to various illnesses

•Ex: AIDS, mental illness, physical disabilities

•May be treated differently

The Symbolic Interactionist Perspective

Stigma related to mental illness can be harmful• Others don’t understand - stress• Fear of getting help• Discrimination at work or school• Bullying, physical violence, or harassment• Health insurance may not cover needs

attention-deficit disorder

clinical depression obsessive-compulsive disorder

bipolar disorder post-traumatic stress disorder

schizophrenia

anorexia social anxiety disorder post-partum depressionbulimia

Epidemiology(epa-dimi-ology)

Study of patterns in frequency of -sickness-injury-death

Measure health based on 3 factors1. Fertility: birthrate

2. Mortality:# of deaths

3. Morbidity: rate of diseases

Infant mortality:Rate of infant deaths for children less than 1 year oldStrong indication of health of a nation High in the U.S.

Health Trends in the U.S.• #1 Leading cause of deathHeart disease

• 2nd Cancer

• Deaths from both have decreased since 1950’s

Source: CDC (Center for Disease Control)

Health Trends in the U.S.• U.S. spends more $ on health care than any other

country

Source: CDC (Center for Disease Control)

Solutions•National health insurance•Compulsory, employer-financed health insurance•HMO’s and Managed Care•PPO’s•New health care practitioners•Self-care and changing life-styles•Medicare and Medicaid

Think of pros and cons of each optionWhich solutions seems best to you? Why?

Which solution seems worst? Why?

The Growing Problem of Obesity

• 2/3 of U.S. adults are overweight or obese

• # of overweight children and has grown 12% (since 1970’s)

Use your sociological imagination

Childhood obesity: At 8 years of age, Connor weighs 218 pounds.

Individual Perspective Sociological Perspective

Focus on personal characteristics

Focus on the influence of society

• biology• genetics• personality• personal characteristics

• media• corporations/companies• education/schooling• time, place• culture, religion• government (laws, policies)• peers, family• technology

SolutionsNetwork For A Healthy California

www.cdph.ca.gov

• Advertising• School

education programs

• Resources on website

Visual Essay/ Media AnalysisDue next week April 24th: Visual essay/Media Analysis

7 points

Work on this ahead of time

Documentaries about Health

Aids/HIV in Africa

Discovery Channel REPORT

AIDS - leading cause of death in sub-Saharan Africa

killing estimated 1.3 million people in 2007

In the same year, 1.7 million became infected with HIV

(Source: UNAIDS 2008 Report on the global AIDS epidemic)

Min 24:10-42:47

Aids/HIV in Africa Solutions

AIDS in Africa: Keep A Child Alive http://keepachildalive.org/

Next Class

April 22nd Mon: Media. Read pages 282-294

Due next week April 24th: Visual essay/Media analysis

Have some form of universal health careAttempting to implement universal health careNo universal health care

Source: World Health Organization

Universal Health Care Availability

What does society expect of us if we “call in sick?”

The Sick Role1.Don’t punish people for being sick2.People around try to help (chicken soup)3.Sick person should try to get better - rest4.Follow doctors orders – go to doctor, take medications

Critiqued because it does not always fit well, depending on the illness

Health Belief Model: Conditions for taking care of your own health

1. Must believe your are risk2. Must believe the problem is serious3. Must believe prevention will change risk significantly4. Must believe they can overcome financial, emotional,

or physical barriers