Social medicine

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Social Medicine

Social medicine (pronunciation: /ˈsoʊʃəl ˈmɛdɪsɪn/) is a branch of medicine that focuses on the social, economic, and environmental factors that influence the health of individuals and communities.

Etymology

The term "social medicine" was first used in the 19th century by Dr. Jules Guerin, a French physician who advocated for the integration of medical and social sciences to improve public health. The term was later popularized by Dr. Salvador Allende, a Chilean physician and politician, in his book "La Realidad Médico Social de Chile" published in 1939.

Definition

Social medicine is defined as the study of social factors affecting the health of an individual or a community. It involves the understanding and application of social sciences such as sociology, psychology, and anthropology in the field of medicine. It aims to promote health equity and social justice by addressing the social determinants of health.

Related Terms

  • Public Health: The science and practice of protecting and improving the health of people and their communities.
  • Epidemiology: The study of how often diseases occur in different groups of people and why.
  • Health Equity: The principle underlying a commitment to reduce—and, ultimately, eliminate—disparities in health and in its determinants.
  • Social Determinants of Health: Conditions in the environments in which people are born, live, learn, work, play, worship, and age that affect a wide range of health, functioning, and quality-of-life outcomes and risks.

See Also

External links

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