Health Illness and society Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Health Illness and society - Essay Example or theories on health are not limited to illnesses and symptoms but as to how people interpret and respond to symptoms as well (Hughner and Kleine 2004, p. 1688). For instance, Hughner and Kleine (2004, p. 1869) pointed out that a person who sees the role of a physician as someone who would fix his or her body would behave in a different way compared to a person who sees himself or herself as somebody who can control his or her own health. A person who sees pills as a magic substance that will cure his or her health will progress differently from a person who sees medicines as only one aspect of a comprehensive approach to health (Hughner and Kleine 2004, p. 1869). Blaxter pointed out in 2000 that the poorest sectors of society can attribute illnesses to purely behavioural causes or that the causes of ill health are beyond their control (Hodgins et al. 2006, p. 1986). Illnesses are always attributed to poverty and the idea that one can be socially unfortunate yet very healthy is inte nsely resisted (Hodgins et al. 2006, 1986). Hodgins et al. (2006, p. 1984) reported that a prevailing belief among Travellers, an ethnic minority in Ireland, is that a woman has to be very sick before seeing a doctor. The Travellers believe that the mother must be the one who must get well last from any illness and that the mother must take care of the family because husbands can leave the family but not the wife or the mother (Hodgins et al. 2004, p. 1983). Travellers also believe that smoking is not contraindicated for heart ailments but is even a way of relaxation (Hodgins et al. 2007). Norby (2008, p. 357) pointed out, â€Å"Patients tend to think they are entitled to understand lay health terms like ‘sickness’ and ‘illness’ in ways that do not necessarily correspond to health professionals’ understanding.† Further, Norby (2008, p. 357) argued that it is â€Å"easier for doctors to create a communicative platform of shared concepts by using and explaining special medical