Medical Anthropology

Traditions, practices, habits and beliefs vary among each culture, as does the environment, and availability of goods and supplies. The definition of illness also varies depending on the culture and what is considered good versus bad health. Due to this diversity in everyday life, and the arbitrary definition of health, an illness is specific to the culture it affects. Nancy Scheper-Hughes’ work in Brazil, and her observations of the tendency of the Alto culture to …showed first 75 words of 709 total…

…showed last 75 words of 709 total…one cause of death, Kuru, but in both cases, the problems were resultants of a cultural practice or belief that was specific to that culture. The Alto’s poor care of certain infants was rooted in the cultural value system. The Fore’s struggle with Kuru was caused by a cultural practice. Poor health can be a universal state, but particular illnesses may only affect certain cultures based on the varying traditions, values, and practices.