APY2602
Assignment 2
Semester 2
July Due 2025
,APY2602
Assignment 2: Exceptional Answers
Semester 2
Due 2025
The Relevance of Medical Anthropology in Understanding Health, Healing, and
Medical Systems in Western and Indigenous Societies
, Contents
1. Introduction ............................................................................................................................................... 3
2. Conceptualising Medical Anthropology ..................................................................................................... 4
3. Questioning the Universality of Biomedicine............................................................................................. 5
4. Relevance of Medical Anthropology in Western Societies ....................................................................... 6
4.1. Addressing Cultural Diversity in Patient Care .................................................................................... 6
4.2. Analysing Medicalisation and Power Dynamics ................................................................................. 6
4.3. Understanding the Political Economy of Health ................................................................................. 7
5. Relevance of Medical Anthropology in Indigenous Societies ................................................................... 8
5.1. Validating Indigenous Healing Systems ............................................................................................. 8
5.2. Understanding Health Beliefs and Practices ...................................................................................... 8
5.3. Facilitating Culturally Appropriate Health Interventions ..................................................................... 8
6. Comparative Analysis: Integrating Western Biomedicine and Indigenous Healing Systems ................. 10
7. Conclusion .............................................................................................................................................. 11
8. References .............................................................................................................................................. 12
Assignment 2
Semester 2
July Due 2025
,APY2602
Assignment 2: Exceptional Answers
Semester 2
Due 2025
The Relevance of Medical Anthropology in Understanding Health, Healing, and
Medical Systems in Western and Indigenous Societies
, Contents
1. Introduction ............................................................................................................................................... 3
2. Conceptualising Medical Anthropology ..................................................................................................... 4
3. Questioning the Universality of Biomedicine............................................................................................. 5
4. Relevance of Medical Anthropology in Western Societies ....................................................................... 6
4.1. Addressing Cultural Diversity in Patient Care .................................................................................... 6
4.2. Analysing Medicalisation and Power Dynamics ................................................................................. 6
4.3. Understanding the Political Economy of Health ................................................................................. 7
5. Relevance of Medical Anthropology in Indigenous Societies ................................................................... 8
5.1. Validating Indigenous Healing Systems ............................................................................................. 8
5.2. Understanding Health Beliefs and Practices ...................................................................................... 8
5.3. Facilitating Culturally Appropriate Health Interventions ..................................................................... 8
6. Comparative Analysis: Integrating Western Biomedicine and Indigenous Healing Systems ................. 10
7. Conclusion .............................................................................................................................................. 11
8. References .............................................................................................................................................. 12
