Definition of Ecological Medical Anthropology

Ecological medical anthropology is the study of how cultural and environmental factors effect the general health of a population. It includes examining the methods of treatment embraced by a culture of people and studies the impact of medical treatment and disease on a people. A medical anthropologist must understand a culture, the many factors that affect the general health of a population, including ecological impacts.

Definitions

To understand this complex field of study, it's best to break it down. Medical ecology involves examining any environmental factors, including water quality, food resources and air quality, that affect a human population's health. Anthropology is the study of a people, their cultures and traditions, religious and political beliefs and customs. By combining the two, the anthropologist can examine how the environment and culture of a people impact their general health.

An Example

A remote town could have a high incidence of childhood asthma. An ecological medical anthropologist would study how the environment, as well as the general cultural beliefs of the people living there, are contributing to this problem. While the medical conditions could be caused by poor air quality, the anthropologist would also consider the people's belief systems, access to medical care and general health before drawing any conclusions.

Case study

To understand what an ecological medical anthropologist does in the field, it helps to look at a real case study. Ecological medical anthropologist Sera L. Young spent time in Pemba, Zanzibar examining how a local group of women were responding to a western medical treatment for anemia. In her study, she looked at the volatile political history of this African region, including when health care became available there and how it was administered. Political upheaval had a dramatic and negative effect on the people's general health--and their acceptance of medical help.

Benefits

In the case of the women of Pemba, a clear understanding of that people's history helped to make administering the iron supplement easier for those involved with the treatment. Overcoming the suspicion of government interference, because of the violent history there, was a major concern. The ecological medical anthropologist looks at the entire picture, giving health care providers and planners a better understanding of how and when to administer medical aid.

A growing field

This is a growing specialty of anthropology because so many nations around the world are undergoing advances in access to health care, while at the same time dealing with major political and environmental disasters. "Medical Anthropology in Ecological Perspective" by Ann McElroy is considered by many to be a good introduction to this complicated field.