As the climate warms and the world flattens; our increased travel and blatant neglect of earth’s resources creates an ideal host for a greater number of diseases. In an effort to slow and prevent outbreaks, epidemiologists trace diseases across the world. Similarly, anthropologists follow cultures on a global scale. It would be beneficial for epidemiologists to apply anthropological methods to advance the medical field and vice versa. Especially, as globalization continues to causes foreign countries to interact frequently sharing ideas, beliefs, and diseases. Epidemiology would benefit from anthropological methods because it creates a comprehensive view of a disease, increases disease tracking accuracy, and develops culturally sustainable solutions.
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Medical Anthropology and Epidemiology: Divergences or Convergences? written by Marcia Inhorn describes how interdisciplinary work can be mutually beneficial. While these two fields may be separated by “different units of analysis, levels of abstraction and models of causality” they are united by the traditional understanding of human well being and how that is influenced by the outside environment (Inhorn 286). Without examining the full patient we fail to identify a large part of a disease’s predictability. However, by understanding the patient’s residency, preferences, and beliefs we can identify and predict the path of a disease. For instance, knowing that the Mukogodo prefer boys yet unintentionally care for the girls more by nursing or taking them to a doctor. Epidemiologists can better accurately understand an analysis with cultural information. The blend of epidemiology and anthropology increases validity and
Medical Anthropology and Epidemiology: Divergences or Convergences? written by Marcia Inhorn describes how interdisciplinary work can be mutually beneficial. While these two fields may be separated by “different units of analysis, levels of abstraction and models of causality” they are united by the traditional understanding of human well being and how that is influenced by the outside environment (Inhorn 286). Without examining the full patient we fail to identify a large part of a disease’s predictability. However, by understanding the patient’s residency, preferences, and beliefs we can identify and predict the path of a disease. For instance, knowing that the Mukogodo prefer boys yet unintentionally care for the girls more by nursing or taking them to a doctor. Epidemiologists can better accurately understand an analysis with cultural information. The blend of epidemiology and anthropology increases validity and