| Unit name | Medical Anthropology in Global Health |
|---|---|
| Unit code | BRMS30026 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | H/6 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24) |
| Unit director | Dr. Cabral |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
None |
| School/department | Bristol Medical School |
| Faculty | Faculty of Health Sciences |
Why is this unit important?
Medical anthropology provides insight into how social relations, cultural norms and understandings of body and mind, societal structures and political economies shape patterns of, and responses to, health and illness. Health is a priority for individuals and societies, with huge financial investments by countries and international organisations (like the World Health Organisation). Global health is concerned with improving health equity for people worldwide and has particular focus on health in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMIC), marginalized populations in High-Income Countries and the health issues that transcend national boundaries. Medical anthropology provides a critical perspective and key insights into how socio-historical processes and health structures and systems can perpetuate health inequalities.
This unit will provide an overview of the key theories, concepts and research methods used in medical anthropology. It will introduce research that illuminates health concepts, practices and systems and provides critical analysis of global health players, policies and practices.
How does this unit fit into your programme of study
This is a specialist subject option that will provide you with an overview of medical anthropology. It will provide a broad knowledge base and equip you to locate and engage critically with anthropological and global health research. It will provide insight into the value of interdisciplinary research by combining perspectives from anthropology and health research in a global context.
iBSc students will be introduced to complementary perspectives to biomedical approaches and anthropology students will be provided with an overview of medical anthropology theory and research. Students will learn in an interdisciplinary learning environment and gain insight into medical anthropology's key contributions to global health.
An overview of content
This unit aims to develop knowledge and understanding of the roles of culture, social structure and political economy in shaping global health. The course includes an overview and discussion of anthropological methods, including both in-depth ethnographies and rapid participatory techniques, and approaches to decolonising anthropology in global health. It covers key topics in medical anthropology including: anthropology of the body, understandings of health and illness, anthropological perspectives on the social determinants of health, the use and interpretation of pharmaceuticals and other medicines, the commodification of healthcare, the anthropology of disability, cross-cultural psychiatry, illness narratives, the anthropology of aging, the logic of global health interventions and case studies of anthropologically informed health initiatives.
Using these anthropological perspectives, the course examines a range of health issues including vaccination, mental health, PTSD, maternity care, malaria, Ebola, Covid, Neglected Tropical Diseases (e.g. dengue fever, trachoma), non-communicable conditions (e.g. diabetes).
How will students, personally, be different as a result of the unit
This unit will advance your understanding of human health and responses to ill health by introducing you to the perspective of medical anthropology and how it can be applied to understand and address a wide range of health issues. It will equip you to draw on medical anthropology theory and evidence to explain health practices and address global health inequalities.
Learning Outcomes
On completion of the unit, students will be able to:
Weekly lectures and linked problem-based learning workshop.
Structured self-led learning locating and critically evaluating relevant medical anthropology literature.
Group work to develop a presentation to present to the whole class as part of the formative assessment.
Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (formative):
In the weekly workshops you will work in groups to discuss questions that ask you to apply what you learned from the lecture to a particular health topic. This will help prepare you for the summative assessment. You will receive verbal feedback from staff and peers.
A formative group presentation on a specific topic will allow you to apply your knowledge and gain feedback to support you in writing your summative assessment.
Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):
This is a coursework assessment in form of a report. (100% final unit mark) [ILOs 1, 2 & 3]
When assessment does not go to plan
As this is a final year unit, reassessment is not normally permitted. However, in light of self-certification of absences or certified exceptional circumstances, the Exam Board may award a further attempt at failed or missed assessment. The reassessment will normally be in the same format as the original assessment. See the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes for further detail
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. BRMS30026).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the University Workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The assessment methods listed in this unit specification are designed to enable students to demonstrate the named learning outcomes (LOs). Where a disability prevents a student from undertaking a specific method of assessment, schools will make reasonable adjustments to support a student to demonstrate the LO by an alternative method or with additional resources.
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. For appropriate assessments, if you have self-certificated your absence, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (for assessments at the end of TB1 and TB2 this is usually in the next re-assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
