APY2602 ASSIGNMENT 2 SEMESTER 2 2025 *COMPLETE ANSWERS* DUE DATE SEPTEMBER 2025 (BEST ANSWERS FOR THIS ASSIGNMENT)

(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.