UNIVERSITAS AIRLANGGA



Detail Article

The Indonesian Journal of Public Health

ISSN 1829-7005

Vol. 1 / No. 3 / Published : 2005-03

Related with : Scholar   Yahoo!   Bing

Original Article :

The social origins of illness: a neglected history(a review)

Author :

  1. Oedojo Soedirham*1
  1. Department of Health Education and Behavioral Sciences, Faculty of Public Health Airlangga University

Abstract :

While the field of public health is historically rooted in the social reform movements of the 19th century, it is only in recent years thatsystematic working relationships between social science and public health have become formally established. Not only it is important torecognize the interdisciplinary scope of social science in public health; it is also necessary to keep in mind the multi-faceted nature of mostsocial problems in the field of health. Social problems, in general, are interrelated; poverty, housing, fertility, alcoholism, mental disorders,juvenile delinquency, and venereal disease are not separate problems; they need to be looked at in combination.By presenting the works of Engels, Virchow, and Allende the article is intended to stimulate critical thinking of public health problems.While Engels and Virchow documented the impact of early capitalism, Allende focused on capitalist imperialism and unde rdevelopment.Public health is thus as an integral part of the social system, and can be fully understood only in terms of existing social forces. Thecharacter and distribution of public health programs including health care, in many respects, reflect the ideological preferences of society.Although the nature of medical knowledge and technology limit the operation of ideological forces, the system of power and social stratificationin society explains who receives care and under what conditions. In this sense, health-care delivery depends on the political forces, since politicsessentially determines how the resources of the community to be distributed – how much and to whom.

Keyword :

Soccial origins of illnes, social system, socio -political forces,


References :





Archive Article

Cover Media Content

Volume : / No. : / Pub. :