49335 - MedicalAnthropology (A-K)

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, the student acquires the theoretical-methodological tools to adequately consider the socio-cultural dynamics involved in the experience of the disease and in the forms of care. Starting from the consideration that the process of translating signs of malaise into symptoms of disease is mediated by cultural reference frameworks, not taking into account the patient's perspective means running the risk of not understanding the meaning of her experience and hindering her participation in the therapeutic process. These issues emerge as central not only in the case of foreign patients, whose cultural context can be very different from that of medical-health personnel, but in every experience of illness. Through long-established tools on these issues it is possible to produce a better efficiency of the services provided (reducing dropout, non-compliance and obstacles to access) and greater therapeutic efficacy (thus promoting the health of the population). In particular, the student has knowledge of: - cultural shaping of the experience of illness; - doctor-patient communication; - impact of socio-economic processes in the production of risk factors and pathologies; - implementation of models to make these requests operational in the context of the doctor-patient encounter and in the more general promotion of her health.

Course contents

Culture, body and society: a complex relationship:

• The role of human and social sciences in the reconfiguration of clinical care practice;
• Body and embodiment;
• Professional-patient relationship and communication;
• Rethinking the cultural competence
  
• Therapeutic efficacy and (lack of) compliance;
• Disease, illness, sickness;
  

The experience of pain and its meanings:

• Between nature and culture: sex and gender;
  

Socio-economic processes, risk and health promotion:

• The production of risk factors: social determinants and health inequalities;
  
• Structural violence and social suffering;
  
• Health promotion and equity in health services access;

Health and migration: 

• From competence to cultural awareness;
  

The training of doctors: clinical gaze and self-reflexivity

Readings/Bibliography

Fundamental readings:

- Pizza G., (2005), Salute e Malattia: una coppia ambigua, in Pizza G. (2005) “Antropologia Medica. Saperi, pratiche e politiche del corpo”, Carocci, Roma, pp. 74-106.

- Quaranta I. (2012), La trasformazione dell’esperienza. Antropologia e processi di cura, Antropologia e Teatro, 3 (2012), pp. 1–31.

All course contents will be subject of exam. Students will be able to deepen the topics discussed in class by reading at least one article or book chapter from each of the following thematic sections.

Culture, body and society: a complex relationship:

- Ciannameo A. (2015), Corpo, malattia e cura in una prospettiva di salute globale, in Emerson E. Merhy, Angelo Stefanini, Ardigò Martino (2005, a cura) “Problematizzando epistemologie in salute collettiva: saperi dalla cooperazione Brasile e Italia”. Rede Unida, Porto Alegre-Bologna, pp. 103-126.

- Napier D. et al. (2014), Culture and Health (The Lancet Commissions), in «The Lancet», vol. 384, n. 1, pp. 1607-1639.

- Pizza G., (2005), Figure del corpo, in Pizza G. (2005) “Antropologia Medica. Saperi, pratiche e politiche del corpo”, Carocci, Roma, pp. 29-74.

- Quaranta I. (2017), Cura e significato: dalle competenza alla consapevolezza culturale, in Gemelli G. (2017, a cura) “CONSAPEVOLMENTE Prendersi cura di adolescenti e giovani adulti in onco-ematologia”, Baskerville, Bologna, pp. 246 - 272.

The experience of pain and its meanings:

- Cozzi D. (2012), Dolore, in Cozzi D. (2012, a cura di), "Le parole dell’antropologia medica. Piccolo dizionario", Morlacchi Editore, Perugia, pp.85-112.

- Good B. (2006), Un corpo che soffre. La costruzione di un mondo di dolore cronico in Quaranta I. (2006, a cura), “Antropologia medica. I testi fondamentali”, Raffaello Cortina, Milano, pp. 235-259;

- Moretti C. (2014), Ricostruire un sapere: quando con SF si intende “solo fantasia” e “solo femminile”, in «AM Rivista della Società italiana di antropologia medica», n. 38, pp. 457-471;

- Moretti C. (2017), Sympathetic Character. La retorica dell’inefficacia nei processi diagnostici della Sindrome Fibromialgica, in «AM Rivista della Società italiana di antropologia medica» n. 43-46, pp. 177-200;

- Riberio Corossacz V. (2015), Sesso e genere, oltre natura e cultura in Cutolo A., Grilli S., Viti F. (2015, a cura), «Tempo, persona e valore», Argo, Lecce, pp. 127- 143;

Socio-economic processes, risk and health promotion:

- Di Girolamo C., Martino A. (2015), Le disuguaglianze in salute: spunti per una riflessione teoricain Emerson E. Merhy, Angelo Stefanini, Ardigò Martino (2015, a cura) “Problematizzando epistemologie in salute collettiva: saperi dalla cooperazione Brasile e Italia”. Rede Unida, Porto Alegre-Bologna, pp. 15-34;

- Farmer P., (2006), Sofferenza e violenza strutturale. Diritti sociali ed economici nell’era globale, in Quaranta I. (2006 a cura), “Antropologia medica. I testi fondamentali”, Raffaello Cortina, Milano, pp. 265-302;

Health and migration:

- Bodini C. (2017), L’accesso alle cure nella ‘fortezza europa’, in «Sistema salute», vol. 61, n. 3, pp. 45-58;

- Ciannameo A. (2012), Storie di vita, racconti di malattia e migrazione. I simboli, le ragioni, i sintomi del Mal de Chagas nella periferia di Buenos Aires, in Franceschi Z. (2012, a cura) “Annuario di Antropologia Storie di vita/Autobiografie N.14”, Ledizioni, Milano, pp. 147-179;

- Ciannameo A. (2014), Da dimenticata a emergente: la malattia di Chagas, crocevia tra strategie sanitarie e politiche migratorie. Una rilettura etnografica, in «AM Rivista della Società Italiana di Antropologia Medica», n. 38/ottobre, 283-311.

- Fusaschi M. (2007), Verso un multiculturalismo all’italiana. La “legge speciale” e il dibattito sull’infibulazionein F. Pompeo (2007), “La società di tutti”, Meltemi, Roma, pp. 95-115.

- Martino A., Stefanini A., Tortoreto B. (2014), Salute, in Riccio B. (2014) “6. Antropologia e migrazioni”, CISU, Roma, Capitolo XV, pp. 179- 194.

- Ong A. (2018), Da rifugiati a cittadiniin Allovio S. et al.(2018 a cura di) “Antropologia culturale. I temi fondamentali”, Raffaello Cortina, Milano, pp. 290-301.

The training of doctors: clinical gaze and self-reflexivity:

- Good B. (1999), Come la medicina costruisce i propri oggetti, in Good B. (1999) «Narrare la malattia. Lo sguardo antropologico sul rapporto medico-paziente», Einaudi Edizioni di Comunità, Torino, pp. 101-135.

- Pizza G. (2005), “Fare i medici”, in Pizza G. (2005) «Antropologia Medica. Saperi, pratiche e politiche del corpo», Carocci, Roma, pp. 169-183.

 

Teaching methods

Frontal lessons, spaces for discussion and active participation

Assessment methods

This course of Medical Anthropology is a component of the integrated course of GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY AND MEDICAL ANTHROPOLOGY.

Test with 33 forced choice questions with 5 alternatives (20 questions of Psychology and 10 questions of Anthropology).

Teaching tools

Slides and audiovisual materials

Office hours

See the website of Chiara Moretti