Interaction with patients, their families and colleagues is a core aspect of the daily activities of all healthcare professionals. It is therefore vital for them to have a sound knowledge of why people behave the way they do, why they may behave differently in the healthcare environment and what happens in times of illness and stress. It is also important to understand the external forces that cause the many social problems in South African society and the forces that shape policy decisions relating to healthcare.

Key Features

 To give a deeper understanding of South African society and the sociological perspective, this book:

• Shows how sociological theories relate to the healthcare environment

• Discusses the sociocultural context of southern African society in all its diversity

• Describes some specific social issues and explains their impact on healthcare, such as HIV and Aids, sex work, substance abuse, sexual violence, youth violence, teenage pregnancy, and also child abuse and neglect

• Provides an overview of some of the social contexts in which healthcare is delivered, such as the hospital environment, and describes healthcare systems – other than biomedicine – recognised in South Africa, namely African traditional healing and complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), and

• Explains how government policy influences health and healthcare.

Chapter 1: The sociological approach to health and disease

1.1 What is the sociological perspective?

1.2 Sociology and other sciences

1.3 A unique perspective on society: the sociological imagination

1.4 Establishing patterns

1.5 Sociological theory

1.6 The main sociological theories

1.7 Concluding comments

Chapter 2: The sociocultural context of health and healthcare delivery

2.1 Introduction

2.3 The South African population features

2.4 Culture

2.5 Race/ethnicity

2.6 Race and health

2.7 Age

2.8 Disability

2.9 Gender

2.10 Social class and stratification

2.11 Concluding comments

Chapter 3: Experiencing health and disease

3.1 Introduction

3.2 An historical overview of disease patterns

3.3 Theoretical approaches to health and disease

3.4 Defining health, disease and illness (behaviour)

3.5 Therapeutic relationships

3.6 Concluding comments

Chapter 4: Social problems and their health implications

4.1 Social problems

4.2 HIV and Aids

4.3 Substance abuse

4.4 Violence

4.5 Suicidal behaviour

4.6 Sexual violence

4.7 Youth violence

4.8 Child abuse and neglect

4.9 Teenage pregnancy

4.10 Concluding comments

Chapter 5: Healthcare contexts

5.1 The family

5.2 The institutionalisation of healthcare

5.3 The primary healthcare movement

5.4 African traditional healthcare

5.5 Complementary and alternative medicine

5.6 Concluding comments

Chapter 6: Policy influences on health and healthcare

6.1 Introduction

6.2 Defining policy

6.3 The policy process

6.5 Healthcare policies and reform prior to 1994

6.6 Post-apartheid healthcare policies and reform

6.7 Responses to HIV and Aids

6.8 Concluding comments

Index

The authors have succeeded in making this a lively and accessible text. Undoubtedly students will want to read further on this fascinating topic.