Sociological Perspective in Health and Social Care - Assignment Example

Sociological perspective in health and social care Contents Question 3 Patterns and trends of health and illness in two different social groups using different sociological perspectives 3 Question 2 5 Evaluate different sociological perspectives to discuss patterns and trends of health and illness in two social groups 5 References 9 Question 1 Patterns and trends of health and illness in two different social groups using different sociological perspectives The chances of dying and even fall ill are linked to various factors such as gender, social class, ethnicity and age. The two most important social groups that are taken into consideration for analyzing the trends and patterns are gender and social class. The social class relates more of ranking individuals that is based on income, occupation, manners and education. It is often perceived that more higher is the social class the healthier is the people. The inequality and poverty factors in the society have diverse effects on the physical, mental well-being and social life of a person. These two factors of the society are very closely associated. The mortality rate of the infants that is the IMR ratio is very high for those children that are born to those parents those who are poor in comparison to the richer group. It has often been observed that the people who belong to the richer sections of the society are less likely to suffer from diseases such as cancer, strokes and heart diseases in relation to other sections of the society (Walsh, 2004, pp. 90-91). The probable reasons for the richer sections of the society to live longer is proper medication and treatment that they get in comparison to those people falling in the poverty line who do not have money to afford such expensive health treatments. The social class as one of the social group denotes the inequalities that is present in the society and that plays a major role in defining the trend and pattern of illness and health. The factor of health measurement is usually done while analyzing the morbidity and mortality rates and that is what shown in the government publications and other official statistics. These kind of measures are termed as indicators for the ill health and these indicators do not relate to any positive sense and is the most easily accessible and feasible measure to denote the trend of health. The other measure through which the level or the trend of health can be depicted is by taking measures of development, decay and bodily growth. Social class has a very strong relation with illness as the majority of the poverty stricken people are the ones who suffer the most across the globe because they do not get the proper hygienic food and also proper medication that can keep them healthy. The life expectancy curve denotes that gender also play a significant role to determine the health and illness pattern trend in the society. It has been observed that women’s are the ones who live longer in comparison to that of men in the society. There are certain chronic diseases that are experienced or rather noticed in women that are of infirmity, disability and most of the longer stand illness. In terms of gender men are more prone towards taking drugs to come out of depression or any kind of such stress but on the contrary women makes frequent visits to their doctors so that they can keep well and can get quick medical treatment for their chronic diseases. Thus the pattern of health and illness show a drastic change in terms of males and females, and even the proportion of the section that suffers the most because of this illness and health related issues. Females are the ones who are well aware about all kinds of health related issues and takes active measures to solve their health problems and this is observed in the lifespan that is more of females in comparison to the males. On the other hand there are few sociological perspectives such as functionalism, feminism, Marxism and interactionism (Weitz, 2012, pp. 101-102). These perspectives have an effect on the trend and pattern of illness and health issues in the society. The functional perspective states that society and humans do possess some basis needs, and there exist some of the government institutions that would be responsible to fulfill such needs. The functionalist even takes into account that they are some sources that restricts the behaviour of an individual within the society. The views of the Marxists are based on the interests and conflicts that prevail in the society. Feminism relates to the point of view of women in terms of social experience. Through this sociological perspective the importance of women are more highlighted in the society even though the viewpoint of males are also taken into consideration. Interactionism is another perspective that analyzes the actions and behaviours in a small social class. Through this sociological perspective the actions are developed based on the groups that are involved and the interactions. This perspective states that the societal roles and the choices of an individual may differ from those of the other and often faces a lot of criticisms and even are not defined very clearly in the social context. These approaches have different sets of views towards the health and illness pattern in the society. Question 2 Evaluate different sociological perspectives to discuss patterns and trends of health and illness in two social groups The functional perspective of the sociological aspect focuses more on cooperation and stability of the social groups. The social events are characterized with functions so that there lays a continuity within the system. The process of socialization through this perspectives aims at translating the rules of the society into roles. As per the medical sociology this perspective is concerned with that of illness behaviour or the social role. This functionalism factor also states that illness is not a physical condition but can be considered to be social phenomenon. Health as per this aspect can be defined as the optimum capacity that exists in an individual so that they can effectively perform the tasks and roles in the society. The functional perspective thus plays an intrinsic role in the health sector so that the function of the society is smooth. This states that to fall sick can be compared to fail in performing the role in the society and hence illness can be compared to that of unmotivated deviance. The sick role concept is the factor that regulates the deviance and sickness and it is linked with the role of social control that is exhibited by the doctors that enables the patient to achieve the status of the sick. This approach aligns the society with that of sick individual. This approach in relation to the social care and health believes that medicines are a medium through which the well being of the whole society is taken care of and that it protects the public even from those individuals who criticizes the system (Stolley, 2005, pp. 56-57). This approach states the sick people are exempted from all the responsibilities and rights that is associated with those individuals who possess a good health. The main responsibility of the individuals in this state is to work along with doctors or medical professionals so that the same image and status can be gained by them in the society. The functionalism approach denotes that there are certain social consequences that results due to illness. The other perspective of health and illness is Marxist approach. This approach states the most important component of the society is material product may that be basic commodities such as food, clothes, etc. to that of mass commodities for a more capitalized society. The perspective when associated with health and illness focuses more on determining the origins of the illness in a more social context. The approach states that the major influencing factor of the health and illness outcome of the mass population is the operating measures of the capitalist society of the economy and that too at two different segments (Barry and Yuill, 2002, pp. 123-124). The first level is that of various production process in which the major factors that has been affecting health is that of industrial injuries and diseases, or ill health that may be related to stress, or can even be as a result of other methods of large commodity production in the capitalized society. Environmental pollution is caused by the production process and there is even certain affects on the health that results due to consumption of these commodities and these health issues are for longer run that is caused through chemical additives, having processed food, car accidents, etc. The level of distribution also has some major implications on the health. The major determinants of the living standard of people are wealth and income. This helps in determining the place where the stay, easy accessibility to health care options, more of educational opportunities, and other forms of recreational opportunities. These factors play an important role in defining the pattern and trend of health issues prevailing in the society. The Marxist social perspective focuses on the interests of the social class and denotes that the health pattern is not a social issue but more of a problem of an individual. This can be further entertained through health workforce and even identifying the main problems behind the health issues and even extends support towards the drug industry. This approach states that the doctors and health professionals are more of health care agents who strive towards making the individuals suffering from illness to get back to their normal mode and to work. Their main focus it to provide the owner with a workplace that is healthy (Brechin, Brown and Eby, 2000, pp.111-112). This approach indicates that social control highlights illness as a work inability and states that health related issues are more of individual problem and cannot be combined together with other aspects of the society or the society as a whole. The feminism sociological perspective highlights that the males play a very dominating factor on the medical professionals and this in turn has a negative consequence on females in terms of social care and health sector. The feminist approach states that certain health issues that were considered to be a natural process such as childbirth etc., is more of an issue of health pandemic. The females are the ones who perform a thorough analysis of the possible measures or health treatment before undergoing any such treatment. Illness such as mental problems or any such depression is noticed more in females particularly due to exploitation of the family or the society. Social feminists and other Marxism has been raising their voice against the social inequalities that are prevailing in the society and which causes serious impact on the health of women. The feminism perspective states that there are certain aspects or rather some subordinate roles that are dominated by females and more of health related issues such as mental illness and given drugs particularly on depression are observed more in females in comparison to that of males. The other sociological perspective is that of interactionism. This perspectives state that illness and health are more of theoretical concepts where it is more concerned with the relation of the patients with that of medical professionals, the social image and contributions of an individual and how well the person is aware about his or her illness. The approach is more focused on analyzing the relationship between the illness and health, and it is not much concerned with the structures but rather with the peers and family and relationship of the patients with the medical professionals as these are some of the influencing factors that affect health of an individual. These relationships play a very important role in the life of patients and specially in medical diagnosis as it indicates what is the actual perception of the patients whether they consider themselves as of well health or of ill health. Thus this approach focuses more on social relationships that affects the pattern of health and illness and do not consider the real concept of illness and health. This sociological perspective states that there are certain major elements that affect the health of an individual that is of poverty, pollution, society and stress. The interactionism perspective has a completely different approach that encompasses a study of the consequences and impact on the life of individuals that is caused by illness. The different approaches have different ways of analyzing the patter and trend of health and illness. The different models and approaches has a unique relation that defines the trends of health, however the most effective perspective is that health and illness is more of individual aspect and it highly depends on the social relationships that affects the medical treatment of individuals and even helps to determine the health status of an individual. References Barry, A. M., and Yuill, C. 2002. Understanding Health: A Sociological Introduction. Great Britain: SAGE Brechin, A., Brown, H., and Eby, M. A. 2000. Critical Practice in Health and Social Care. UK: SAGE Stolley, K. S. 2005. The Basics of Sociology. USA: Greenwood Publishing Group Walsh, M. 2004. Introduction to Sociology for Health. UK: Nelson Thornes Weitz, R. 2012. The Sociology of Health, Illness, and Health Care: A Critical Approach. USA: Cengage Learning Read More