In a reappraisal of public health and health promotion in contemporary societies, Deborah Lupton puts forward that health cannot be understood simply as the presence or absence of disease - rather, it represents a moral imperative that is embedded in social and cultural norms and expressed in public policies. Using sociocultural and political theory, the author analyses the implications of the new social theories for the study of health promotion and communication. Combining sociological, anthropological, historical and cultural studies approaches, she analyses the symbolic nature of public health practices and explores their underlying meanings and assumptions. Key topics include: the history and emergence of the public health movement; contemporary health promotion and public health strategies; risk discourse and diagnostic testing; the use of the mass media and advertising in health promotion; bodies, pleasures and the practices of self in response to health promotion. "The Imperative of Health" seeks to explore the ways in which some of the knowledge and practices of public health and health promotion have been developed and articulated, how they are justified, what ends they seek and their alliances and dependencies. This book should be useful reading for students and academics in the sociology of health and illness, health communication, cultural studies, mass communications, medical anthropology and sociology, nursing and public health.
A knowledge of the social context in which HIV transmission occurs is useful when trying to understand the AIDS epidemic. This broad-ranging book offers an overview of our current understanding of the social conditions and contexts of the spread of HIV infection. The author examines the social epidemiology of HIV transmission in its different manifestations in the developing world and in the west, looking at heterosexual and homosexual transmission, sex tourism and prostitution, injecting drug users, haemophiliacs and transfusion recipients. He goes on to look at reports of sociological studies of risk behaviour among men who have sex with men, among heterosexual and bisexual men and women, and among those who share syringes. Drawing on his own research, Michael Bloor presents a critical examination of the different theoretical models of risk behaviour and considers their implications for disease prevention. "The Sociology of HIV Transmission" should be useful reading for academics, researchers and students in medical sociology and in health, sexuality and youth studies, as well as for health and social work practitioners working in areas related to AIDS, health promotion and education, and sex education.
Alternatives to the Hospital for Acute Psychiatric Care describes various cost-effective alternatives to psychiatric hospital care and provides specific details for mental health administrators to evaluate the usefulness and feasibility of the various models for their own mental health care setting.
Biological, psychological and social factors are considered in this volume in its exploration of adolescent substance abuse, with adolescents presented as a clearly defined group with unique needs and concerns. The author examines issues such as assessment, treatment planning, service provision and the recovery process, and proposes creative treatment approaches. Integrating the complex elements which impact upon the initiation, maintenance and treatment of young substance abusers, the author uses his biopsychosocial model to examine normative issues for adolescents and how impairment in these areas can cause - or be the result of - substance abuse. Consideration is also given to particularly vulnerable young people, such as those with concurrent psychological disorders or who are victims of child abuse, and who subsequently require additional therapeutic understanding and skill.
Uncertain Motherhood presents research on maternal behaviour among women who have less than optimal outcomes in pregnancy. The contributors examine mothers' reactions to infertility, unwanted pregnancy, `at-risk' pregnancy, stillbirth, birth of a preterm baby and the birth of a baby with a birth defect. The purpose of the book is to develop an understanding of the women's experiences in order to assist caregivers in the provision informed care.
This pioneering volume takes a family systems perspective to aid understanding, treating and preventing substance abuse. It explores a myriad of variables and each chapter includes a case study or vignette to highlight relevant individual and family life-cycle issues. Topics discussed include treating substance abuse across the life span, multicultural approaches and co-dependency. This challenging volume makes a major contribution to the substance abuse and family therapy fields.
The Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum is a national advocacy organization dedicated to promoting policy, program, and research efforts for improving the health status of Asians and Pacific Islanders in the United States. This book was stimulated by the ideas and efforts of the Forum's National Research Advisory Council (NRAC). First convened in April 1989, the NRAC was formed in response to the poor quality of data, the paucity of health statistics, and the limited epidemiological and health services research on Asian and Pacific Islander Americans. With partial support from the Federal Office of Minority Health, the Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum selected three editors noted for their contributions and past compilations of scholarly work. The Forum also commissioned contributors with demonstrated experience and commitment to advancing the understanding of Asian and Pacific Islander American health in the service, research, and policy sectors. This book is a milestone effort reflecting the Forum's commitment to (a) community-based research; (b) building linkages and collaborations between academic researchers, service providers, and policy-makers; (c) advocating for institutional sanctions on improving data sources and research on Asian and Pacific Islander Americans; and (d) the dissemination of relevant information to diverse communities nationwide.
How we think about health problems, and what we do about them, is largely determined by how they are reported on television, radio and in the newspapers. Often, crucial issues of public health policy are debated and decided on only after they are made visible by the media. The concept of media advocacy as a central strategy for the prevention of public health problems is discussed in this unique book. Traditional communication strategies like social marketing focus on giving people a message; media advocacy gives people a voice. The book lays out the theoretical framework and practical guidelines to successful media advocacy strategies and includes case studies on such vital issues as AIDS and alcohol abuse.
This volume will serve as an indispensable reference for the rural health practitioner facing uniquely rural concerns in health promotion, patient care and professional practice.
