Welcome to the

presentation

A presentation on
Scope and Importance of Sociology of Health and Medicine

Presented to

Tunvir Ahamed Shohel

Assistant Professor
Sociology Discipline,
Khulna University.
Khulna-9100

Presented By-

Fatema
ID: 121605

Introduction
Sociology of Health and Medicine or Medical
sociology, as a subdiscipline of sociology, developed
in the post-World War II period. Medical sociology,
sometimes referred to as health sociology, is the
study of the social causes and consequences of
health and illness. Major areas of investigation
include the social aspects of health and disease, the
social behavior of patients and health care providers,
the social functions of health organizations and
institutions, the social patterns of the utilization of
health services, the relationship of health care
delivery systems to other social institutions, and
social policies toward health.

Scope of Sociology of Health and

Medicine
Medical sociological endeavors tend to follow
two streams: Sociology in medicine and
Sociology of medicine
Sociology in medicine, is the label given to the
collaborative work between sociologists and
medical or health personnel within medical
institutions or health care organizations.
Sociology of medicine, in contrast, focuses on
testing
sociological
hypotheses,
using
medicine as an arena for studying basic issues
in social stratification, power and influence,
social organization, socialization, and the

Scope of Sociology of Health and

Medicine
Other scope of Sociology of Health
and Medicine:
Study of the sick role and illness
experience;
Sociological Epidemiology;
Study of Healthcare Services as
Organizations;
Medicine as Profession; and
Social Construction of illness

The Importance of Studying Medical

Sociology
Medical sociology is the study of the societal
dimensions of health and medicine.
Medical Sociology helps in understanding the
distribution and etiology of disease in the
society, the social and cultural perspective on
disease, role and attitude towards treatment.
Sociological imagination allows us to recognize
that solutions to many of our problems not in
changing
the
personal
situations
and
characteristics of individuals, but in changing the
social institutions and roles available to them.

Social Factors Influencing Health

In sociological approaches to public health, the
role of social and behavioral factors in health
and illness is central.

Social Factors Influencing

Health

Social Factors Influencing

Health

Conclusion
The chief role of sociology in public health remains its
evaluation of those macro components of society that affect
public health at the population level. Such evaluations
provide an understanding of why inequalities in health exist,
and they help elaborate upon the mechanisms and processes
that sustain these inequalities. This relates to the longstanding theoretical concern with social structure among
sociologists. Further, sociology reveals the mechanisms for
long-term changes that may lead to a reduction in health
inequalities. The product of sociological thinking in public
health is not immediate nor easily understood by those who
seek quick and easy solutions to the suffering of humanity.
Nonetheless, the long-term role of sociology in public health
is to change and improve the public health.

Reference
Mechanic, D. 1990. The Role of
Sociology in Health Affairs. Health
Affairs, 9(1): 85-97
Sigdel, R. 2012. Role of Medical
Sociology and Anthropology in Public
Health
and
Health
System
Development. Health Prospect, 11:
28-29

Thank You All