Health and Wellbeing in Diverse Communities - Essay Example

Health & Wellbeing in Diverse Communities Name Institution Introduction From the biomedical model approach, there is a traditional view of western medicine that attempts to define health as the mere absence of disease. The view or perception of health assumes that health can only be lacerated if there exists a biological process. That is the process in which there is a mechanistic result of one’s body being exposed to disease-causing pathogens organisms. However, there have been a series of enquiries concerning the biomedical model with regards to explaining or defining health. Approximately 100 years ago, the causes of health discrepancies changed from pathogens to some chronic disease causing elements. The replacement raised questions regarding the reliability of the traditional biomedical definition of health, especially with regards to the long run definition of the term. Resultantly, different physicians expressed dissatisfaction with the model and commenced appreciation an evolution of alternative models that tried to explain health. The immediate model that replaced the biomedical model was the bio-psychosocial model (Brannon, Feist & Updegraff, 2013). Just like the name proposes, the model respects the biological, psychological and social influences on health. The introduction of the model earned trust since it incorporated the psychological and social influences with regards to health. That was the initial model that challenged the opinion that health was a mere absence of disease. Arguably, an individual who does not have a disease may not be sick. However, he or she might not also be healthy. That implies that health is a multidimensional element of living with other factors such as the social and psychological influences to consider. The essay intends to depict and discuss the different perceptions of health regarding the multiple cultures and communities across the globe (Oben, 2015) The World Health Organisation argument on Health Prior to the detailed analysis of different perceptions of health from the myriad cultures, it is paramount to understand the argument of WHO concerning health. Most importantly, the World Health Organisation bears the latest definition of health (WHO Health, 2015). The definition considers the social, physical and even the mental conditions of a body. One can only be healthy if all the assessment parameters associated with the conditions stipulated turn out to be affirmative. The global organisation, WHO, continues to consider health as a very vital aspect of development in any country. Accordingly, the traditional and cultural perspectives of health are also considered to play a part in diagnosing the healthy status of human beings. Thus, understanding health could be stipulated with regards to wide cross-sectorial, cross borders and the globalised network of health (Koplan et.al, 2009). The essay will stipulate the different perceptions and models of health subject cultural arguments by different communities across the world. The definitions will also vary with time in which these arguments were established. From the diverse lay and definitive arguments of what health is, it will be easier to understand that health is a wide aspect rather than just one being free from disease(WHO | Health, 2015). There are multiple factors that could result in the deterioration of an individual’s health status. Lay definitions of health that influence the mainstream definitions of health Different communities are defined by the different cultures that they possess. Similarly, there are different definitions of health across these cultures and communities (Oben, 2015). From a lay approach, quantitative, as well as, qualitative research concludes that there are different dimensions of health. The research conducted from a series of societies concluded that there are different distinct definitions of health. The section intends to outline the lay definitions of health prior to naming of the precise examples of cultures. It will act as a guideline in the discussion of the professional approach towards defining health. First, health incorporates the physical fitness, as well as, Peak niche condition. The argument is in absolute support the most recent definition of health as stipulated by the World Health Organisation. Secondly, health could be a representation of both the psychological fitness and happiness of an individual or society. The definition also concurs with the Worth Heath Organisation that disregards health to be a mere absolute of disease. Thirdly, health also reflects the balance that exists amongst natural forces within the body. These are forces that could lead to conditions such as amnesia (Koplan et.al, 2009). Thus, failure to have a stabilised natural system could lead to being rendered unhealthy. The forth argument with regards to health conceptualises on the social-psychological condition of a human being. Thus, health could also refer to one’s spiritual activity and inactivity of the same (Hill & Pargament, 2008). However, it is also essential to incorporate the definition of health being the state where there is the absence of illness or disease. Most importantly, health is concluded to be the reserve condition that provides resistance to illness. These different definitions vary between different groups of people. Arguably, it becomes an essential aspect for physicians to identify the beliefs of certain individuals before working on their health complaints. Failure of the physicians and other health practitioners to understand the definitions of their respective clients with regards to health has led to a deteriorating health care system (Kontodimopoulos, Pappa, Niakas & Tountas, 2007). For instance, the cultures from the west control health from the individuality of the clients. However, the Eastern cultures, as well as, other myriad cultures in the developing and third world diagnose health from external forces that the client does not possess control. Community-based definition of health There are a series of professional definitions of health. Concurrently, these definitions concur with the definitions of health amongst distinct groups across the world. Below is a detailed analysis of these arguments of health with regards to global communities and cultures. Health as the absence of disease or illness The definition is considered to be the most robust definition despite the fact that there are other alternative definitions of health. The predominant western communities in the contemporary times still hold on to this definition of health. The western societies continue to spread the reliability of this definition via the mass media including plays and documentaries that are often viewed via television (Kazarian & Evans, 2007). It is, therefore, logical to consider the fact that the western medical model as allopathic and mechanistic. It differs with the alternative definitions that are provided by other numerous cultures. However, there are other precise examples of communities and cultures that embrace the definition of health as the absence of illness (Oben, 2015). For instance, Galen of the Ancient Rome considered health to be a definitive absence of the pathogens in one’s body. The community considered elements such as bad or polluted air and bad body fluid to be possible carriers of pathogens. The biomedical model considers the pathogens to be the major causes of disease. Therefore, the absence of the pathogens means that there is a definite absence of disease. The definition, therefore, concurs with that of the biomedical model. Additionally, the Virchow of Germany also support the argument that health refers to the absence of disease. Precisely, they believe that health could be endangered by the microscopic organism that is speculated to invade cells resulting to series of diseases. The central idea in this argument is that health amongst these people is only recognisable in case there is the absence of disease (Kazarian & Evans, 2007). That implies that they also embrace the biological perspective of assessing one’s health status. Accordingly, they bear a similar perception of health as the Galen in Rome. The most important thing one ought to note is that all these communities are based in the west. That implies that there is a predominance of the definition in the west as compared to other regions of the world. Health as an ideal state The ultimate proposer of health to define as an ideal state was the World Health Organisation, in 1946(WHO | Health, 2015). In fact, the fact that one’s ideal state means that one is health could also replace the social, psychological and the biological perspective of health. It is a definition that steers towards establishing a more affirmative definition of health (Kazarian & Evans, 2007). Arguably, this definition of health tends to be broad. In fact, it considers all aspects of health to be contributory to health. That includes the perceptions of health amongst the western communities and the eastern communities together with other world-wide conditions. The fact that one possesses an ideal state means that he or she has the feeling of biological, spiritual and mental stability. Health as a psychological and social construct The psychological and social life incorporates aspects such as beliefs and arguments. For instance, human beings tend to optimise their capacity to assume responsibility and self-actualisation. The psychological and sociological argument of health links slightly with the biological perspective. Instead, the perception is greatly influenced by the politics, the environment, economics and cultures blended with the biological factors (Koplan et.al, 2009). Myriad communities residing across the national boarders are in support of this definition of health. Most of these communities and cultures dwell upon believes accrued to these people. First, the Babylonians and Assyrians of Mesopotamia believed that health can be endangered by gods. That is; they believe that the gods are likely to send diseases as a form of punishment. Accordingly, they believe that being healthy means that one is free from the wrath of the gods. Arguably, the definition is based on the cultural beliefs that are dominant amongst the Babylonians and the Assyrians. It is as a result of the intensive relation of gods with the things that happen to human beings. Other communities that believe in God as an influencing factor to one’s health are the Ancient Hebrews and Ancient Greeks. The Hebrew believes that health is an ultimate gift from God. Alternatively, they believe that diseases are signs of punishment from God. The Greeks associate health to be a successful unity between the body and the spirit (Hill & Pargament, 2008). The belief is culturally influenced where the people consider health to be determined by the extent to which the people relate to the spirits. Thus, they believe in the supernatural beings to be the determinants of their health status. The Christians and other religious communities also believed that absence of disease signify that one is in unity with God. Health can also be defined from a psychological perspective. For instance, there are some communities who view health in terms of how they interact emotionally and with the environment. For instance, the Freud in Austria feels that health is subject to the influence postulated by emotions and mind. Therefore, they believe that one can declare to himself or herself they are not sick. A similar argument is stipulated by the Western Africans. They believe that health is the absolute harmony acquired via the interaction with other people and objects. The definition considers health as a parameter of sobriety as far as environmental interaction is concerned. People in West Africa base their religions and other aspects of life as subject to nature. Therefore, one can only be determined to be healthy if he or she interacts successfully with the environment or the objects of the world (Hill & Pargament, 2008). The Native Americans also believe that health is that state where one manages to interact with nature and survives under the wrath of difficult conditions. In this case, the American believes that one could be considered healthy if he or she survives the wrath of social discrepancies or economic rupture (Huber et.al, 2011). They do not specify a distinct category of harsh conditions. An affiliate of these beliefs is the Chinese community. The Chinese believe that health is the definitive state where there is physical and spiritually based harmony with nature. Ideally, the argument of the Chinese is that one has to be in concrete congruence with nature from biological and psychological perspective. The physical harmony resembles the biological stability of the body. Alternatively, the spiritual harmony resembles the psychological stability as far as spiritual beliefs are concerned (Hill & Pargament, 2008). Health as the quality of life The definition of health as the quality of life seems to incorporate all the definitions of health. A quality of life needs to be optimised sobriety or stability in terms of the psychological, biological and even the sociological aspects of life (Bircher, 2005). Arguably, most communities and culture consider one or more of these attributes of life and health (Kontodimopoulos, Pappa, Niakas & Tountas, 2007). Accordingly, it becomes concise that health as the quality of life embraces all the cultures from the west, east and other cultures across the world. The definition also concurs with the World Health Organisation’s perception of health. Conclusion The research depicts that there is more to health than a mere absence of illness or disease. The World Health Organisation’s definition of health signifies how expounded health can become. A series of arguments and definitions of health are apportioned from different communities and cultures across the world. Some communities consider health as a sociological element. Others consider health to be a psychological element. Alternatively, there are other communities that still believe that health is the absence of illness (Kontodimopoulos, Pappa, Niakas & Tountas, 2007). However, research shows there is vivid relevance in each perspective about health. In fact, it is considered appropriate for the physicians and other health practitioners to respect and assess the perception and definition of health by their clients. The most important thing is that the definition of health ought to go beyond the notion that health with regards to disease or illness, social constructs and the ideal state of the body. Instead, there is room for defining health, as far as, the definitions postulate a significant level of reliability. References Oben, N. (2015). 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