Ethnomedical Approach
The Ethnomedical approach to medical anthropology studies the different traditional approaches to a disease or illness of different cultures around the world. Diseases or illnesses are treated differently depending on how they are viewed in a certain culture. The ethnomedical approach compares health systems as well as cultures. Culture is defined as the values, beliefs, traditions and behaviors that are specific to a certain population of people. Every culture has their own beliefs on different diseases and illnesses. Some cultures may view an illness in a negative way and other may view is positively. Autism, like other diseases, is viewed differently among different cultures. For example, Anglo Americans accept the biological and environmental causes of autism. However, Asian Americans view autism as a punishment for violating a religious, ethical or cultural code (Cole et al., 2013). Latino mothers believe that a child with autism is a blessing from God that will give the mothers an opportunity to sacrifice part of their lives to take care of another person (Cole et al, 2013).
Treatment is also specific across different cultures. Kleinman’s explanatory models of health are divided into three sectors as different approaches to treatment in different cultures. Popular turns to advice from family and friends; Folk pertains to sacred or secular healers that deal with a more holistic approach; Professional looks to the knowledge of healthcare providers. In relation to the treatment of autism among different cultures, all three sectors are in play. For instance, African Americans seek treatment recommendations from family and friends before seeking professional assistance (Cole et al, 2013). While Latino Americans go to folk healers for treatment (Cole et al, 2013).
The body is looked at by medical anthropologist in three ways, the individual body, the social body, and the body politic. The individual body is centered on how the soul, psyche, and matter are interrelated. In autism patients, this would be the correlation between the mind and the rest of the body. Anthropologists would be able to understand how the mind functions with the rest of the body. The social body is natural reflection of a symbol that contains certain values and ideologies. In autism, you can understand the reason why certain social aspects are not the same as an average person. And finally, the body politic would find ways of ridding the population of this disease by finding treatments. Also, the map above shows seven states requesting for autism treatments to be covered by health insurance and that is party of the body politic.
Treatment is also specific across different cultures. Kleinman’s explanatory models of health are divided into three sectors as different approaches to treatment in different cultures. Popular turns to advice from family and friends; Folk pertains to sacred or secular healers that deal with a more holistic approach; Professional looks to the knowledge of healthcare providers. In relation to the treatment of autism among different cultures, all three sectors are in play. For instance, African Americans seek treatment recommendations from family and friends before seeking professional assistance (Cole et al, 2013). While Latino Americans go to folk healers for treatment (Cole et al, 2013).
The body is looked at by medical anthropologist in three ways, the individual body, the social body, and the body politic. The individual body is centered on how the soul, psyche, and matter are interrelated. In autism patients, this would be the correlation between the mind and the rest of the body. Anthropologists would be able to understand how the mind functions with the rest of the body. The social body is natural reflection of a symbol that contains certain values and ideologies. In autism, you can understand the reason why certain social aspects are not the same as an average person. And finally, the body politic would find ways of ridding the population of this disease by finding treatments. Also, the map above shows seven states requesting for autism treatments to be covered by health insurance and that is party of the body politic.
Citations:
Cole, Demteria, Beth Durodoye, and Henry Harris. "The Impact of Culture and Autism Diagnosis and Treatment:
Considerations for Counselors and Other Professionals." The Family Journal: Counseling and Therapy for Couples and Families 21, no. 3 (2013): 279-87.
Autism Society. "The Culture of Autism." 2009. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-gorIYYMpM
Cole, Demteria, Beth Durodoye, and Henry Harris. "The Impact of Culture and Autism Diagnosis and Treatment:
Considerations for Counselors and Other Professionals." The Family Journal: Counseling and Therapy for Couples and Families 21, no. 3 (2013): 279-87.
Autism Society. "The Culture of Autism." 2009. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-gorIYYMpM