PHA-Exch> A glossary of culture in epidemiology

[Claudio Schuftan]

From: Ruggiero, Mrs. Ana Lucia (WDC) <ruglucia at paho.org>
crossposted from: EQUIDAD at listserv.paho.org

 *A glossary of culture in epidemiology*

*
**D J Hruschka1*, *C Hadley2*
1 Santa Fe Institute, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
2 Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
*Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health - November ** 2008; **62**
:947-951

*

Abstract at: http://jech.bmj.com/cgi/content/abstract/62/11/947?etoc

"…..Culture frequently is used to explain population differences in health.
This glossary defines key concepts and terms relevant to the concept of
culture and describes three challenges—definitional, theoretical, and
methodological—in identifying specific pathways by which culture affects
health.

Culture is frequently invoked to account for population differences in
health and to explain the diverse ways that people interpret and treat
similar medical conditions. Underlying many uses of the term is the view of
culture as a shared system of learned norms, beliefs, values and behaviours
that differ across populations defined by region, nationality, ethnicity or
religion.1 <http://jech.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/62/11/947#B1%23B1>–3<http://jech.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/62/11/947#B3%23B3>

Culture has been proposed to affect health in three key ways

·          First, people use culturally specific explanatory models to think
about, talk about, and direct care for health problems. This can lead to
different patterns of health-seeking and prevention, as well as mismatched
provision of care.4 <http://jech.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/62/11/947#B4%23B4>
–6 <http://jech.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/62/11/947#B6%23B6>

·         Second, cultural habits and practices can protect against, modify
or create novel vectors for transmissible disease through, for example,
eating culturally preferred raw or undercooked
food,7<http://jech.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/62/11/947#B7%23B7>
8 <http://jech.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/62/11/947#B8%23B8> hygienic
practices such as
hand-washing,9<http://jech.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/62/11/947#B9%23B9>modes
of sexual activity,
10 <http://jech.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/62/11/947#B10%23B10> and patterns of
social interaction such as mass
pilgrimages.11<http://jech.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/62/11/947#B11%23B11>

·         Third, culture indirectly influences health when learned beliefs,
values, and norms affect such daily activities as food
consumption,12<http://jech.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/62/11/947#B12%23B12>physical
activity,
and drug use13 <http://jech.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/62/11/947#B13%23B13> in
a way that increases (or decreases) the risk of non-communicable diseases.…."
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