Posted: February 6th, 2015

How will I apply public health anthropology in practice?

How will I apply public health anthropology in practice?

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How will I apply public health anthropology in practice?
Anthropology consists of four subfields: archaeology, physical anthropology, linguistic anthropology, and social and

cultural anthropology. In addition to these four subfield, medical anthropology sometimes considered as the fifth subfield.
Medical anthropology might be considered as a part of social and cultural anthropology.
The main focus of medical anthropology is the interrelationship of society, culture, and biology as well as sickness and

healing. Medical anthropology is the most related subfield to public health(C.Inhorn, 2008).

In order to conduct public health research we should follow certain steps; Defining a research question, then appropriate

method should be chosen, sampling, choosing appropriate tool for data collection, data analysis, and reporting of the

result.
Both qualitative and quantitative research can be used in conducting public health researches. The research question

considers being the main determinant of the method used. Each method can answer certain type of question for example

qualitative research is useful in answering questions such as how much?   How different? On the other hand qualitative

method answers why and how questions, attempting to make sense of the data.

Studying human social life such as believe and value can be best done through qualitative researches.

Anthropologist considers the qualitative research as the foundation and essence of anthropological methods. However

qualitative and quantitative approaches can be used together to complement each other, this approach referred as mixed

method approach(C.Inhorn, 2008).

Observation, in-depth interview, and focus group discussion are the main data collection tools used in qualitative

research.
In-depth interviews provide in-depth information on people’s knowledge, perceptions, and experiences. This method is

suitable for addressing information related to sensitive matters, and individual choices. Interviews can be, informal, semi

structured, or open-ended interview.
Observation is another tool for qualitative research it can be done from outsider or insider perspective. This method is

useful in getting information on things that people would not share, it also used as a complementary method for other

methods.
Focus group discussion involves interviewing several people from similar background at the same time to discuss specific

topic, FGD is useful method for generating new ideas, understanding social norms & values, expectations and, beliefs.

However each tool has its strength and weaknesses that should be taken into consideration.

Understanding of public health problems and designing appropriate interventions are of applications of public health

anthropology.
For example a study done in Dar es Salam to understand the causes of prolong waiting of care taker (at least 48 hours)

before taking the children with febrile illness to the health facilities. Mother perception and belief of fever as ordinary

fever as well as their way of reporting the symptoms to health care provider were the main causes.
However even if more effective medications were made available, mothers would continue to delay in bringing their children

to the health care facility.
Health care providers should be trained to inform the mothers about the severity of malaria symptoms(C.Inhorn, 2008).

Changing behaviors such as eating behavior and lifestyle for people is one of the challenges that public health

practitioners could face. This is because programs aiming at eating behavior change can’t be effective without complete

understanding of social structure, and cultural context of the target population. People’s perception on advantages and

disadvantages of certain interventions, and on harmful impact of certain eating behavior are factors that can determine the

effectiveness of any intervention aiming at eating behavior and lifestyle change (Anja krumeich, 2001).
From above given facts using anthropological methods before designing and applying nutritional interventions would be

important factor for sound interventions related to nutrition.
For example public health program aiming at obesity reduction would be not effective in some communities were obesity

perceived as normal situation and not life threatening problem. In such community public health interventions to decrease

the burden of obesity might be not supported or accepted by the community. Therefore public health anthropology researches

should be conducted prior to these interventions in order to understand the community perception on obesity, severity of

obesity, as well as their acceptance of such interventions. Educating people on how overweight and obesity can negatively

impact their health prior the application of this intervention also would be useful.

Anthropology can also contribute and influence public health policy, as anthropologists are able to see culture in proper

way and the impact of culture on research, as well as their ability to recognize small detail that may appear to be

irrelevant.

Conclusion
Anthropology provides deep understanding of public health problem at population level. It can be applied into public health

to identify public health problem, to design effective interventions, and it also contribute to the development of public

health policy.

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