, APY2602 ASSIGNMENT 2 SEMESTER 2 2025 COMPLETE ANSWERS
DUE DATE: SEPTEMBER 2025
(TWO ESSAYS PROVIDED)
INTRODUCTION
Medical anthropology, also referred to as the anthropology of health, is a field that examines
health, illness, and healing within their social, cultural, and historical contexts. It provides a
critical lens through which conventional medical practices, particularly biomedicine, are
examined in relation to local beliefs, values, and practices. The statement that “one of the
most important functions of medical anthropology is precisely to question the conventional and
universal value and significance of biomedicine” (Unisa, 2023:12) reflects the field’s emphasis
on challenging the assumption that Western medical systems are universally applicable or
inherently superior. This essay discusses the relevance of medical anthropology in
understanding health and healing in both Western and indigenous societies, highlighting how
cultural perspectives shape medical systems and patient care. Examples from various case
studies and ethnographic research are used to substantiate the discussion.
UNDERSTANDING MEDICAL ANTHROPOLOGY
Medical anthropology is concerned with exploring the complex interplay between culture,
biology, and health outcomes. According to Helman (2007), medical anthropology examines
how social, cultural, and environmental factors influence the experience and treatment of
illness. It bridges the gap between biomedical understandings of disease and the lived
experiences of patients, providing insight into why certain health behaviors occur, how
illnesses are perceived, and how healing is sought. Kleinman (1980) introduced the concept
of “explanatory models,” which emphasizes that patients’ understanding of illness and health
often differs from the biomedical framework, shaping their approach to treatment and
compliance with prescribed therapies.
Medical anthropologists adopt holistic approaches to health, recognizing that illness cannot
be understood solely in biological terms. Instead, health is embedded in social relations,
cultural norms, and power structures. This perspective is especially relevant in multicultural
societies where healthcare providers interact with patients from diverse cultural backgrounds.
DUE DATE: SEPTEMBER 2025
(TWO ESSAYS PROVIDED)
INTRODUCTION
Medical anthropology, also referred to as the anthropology of health, is a field that examines
health, illness, and healing within their social, cultural, and historical contexts. It provides a
critical lens through which conventional medical practices, particularly biomedicine, are
examined in relation to local beliefs, values, and practices. The statement that “one of the
most important functions of medical anthropology is precisely to question the conventional and
universal value and significance of biomedicine” (Unisa, 2023:12) reflects the field’s emphasis
on challenging the assumption that Western medical systems are universally applicable or
inherently superior. This essay discusses the relevance of medical anthropology in
understanding health and healing in both Western and indigenous societies, highlighting how
cultural perspectives shape medical systems and patient care. Examples from various case
studies and ethnographic research are used to substantiate the discussion.
UNDERSTANDING MEDICAL ANTHROPOLOGY
Medical anthropology is concerned with exploring the complex interplay between culture,
biology, and health outcomes. According to Helman (2007), medical anthropology examines
how social, cultural, and environmental factors influence the experience and treatment of
illness. It bridges the gap between biomedical understandings of disease and the lived
experiences of patients, providing insight into why certain health behaviors occur, how
illnesses are perceived, and how healing is sought. Kleinman (1980) introduced the concept
of “explanatory models,” which emphasizes that patients’ understanding of illness and health
often differs from the biomedical framework, shaping their approach to treatment and
compliance with prescribed therapies.
Medical anthropologists adopt holistic approaches to health, recognizing that illness cannot
be understood solely in biological terms. Instead, health is embedded in social relations,
cultural norms, and power structures. This perspective is especially relevant in multicultural
societies where healthcare providers interact with patients from diverse cultural backgrounds.
