Health is still social: Contemporary examples in the age of the genome
2006
Health is Still Social: Contemporary Examples in the Age of the Genome
publication
Author Information
Author(s): Timothy H. Holtz, Seth Holmes, Scott Stonington, Leon Eisenberg
Primary Institution: Emory University
Hypothesis
Social medicine is as important now as it has ever been.
Conclusion
The study emphasizes that social factors are primary determinants of health and disease distribution in society.
Supporting Evidence
- Social medicine includes understanding the social roots of disease.
- Disasters like Hurricane Katrina reveal social inequalities in health outcomes.
- Health disparities between racial groups persist due to social factors.
- Medical care availability often reflects the social status of communities.
- Only 10% of global health research funding addresses diseases affecting 90% of the population.
Takeaway
This study shows that how healthy people are depends a lot on their social situation, not just their genes.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
Want to read the original?
Access the complete publication on the publisher's website