Medical anthropology

Medical anthropology issub-branchcultural anthropology thatconcerned withappliationanthropological and social science theoriesmethodsquestions about health, illnesshealing. Some medical anthropologiststrained primarilyanthropology as their main discipline, while others have studied anthropology after trainingworkinghealth or related professions such as medicine, nursing or psychology. Medical anthropologists conduct researchsettings as diverse as rural villagesurban hospitalsclinics. They may teach medical anthropologyuniversity anthropology departments, medicalnursing schoolsin community-based settings.

Themesquestionsmedical anthropology include:

• Developmentsystemsmedical knowledgehealth care
• Patient-practitioner relationships
• Integrating alternative medical systemsculturally diverse environments
• The interactions between biological, environmentalsocial factors influencing healthillness at both individualcommunity levels