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The anthropology of health systems: A history and review

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  • Closser, Svea
  • Mendenhall, Emily
  • Brown, Peter
  • Neill, Rachel
  • Justice, Judith

Abstract

Ethnographies of health systems are a theoretically rich and rapidly growing area within medical anthropology. Critical ethnographic work dating back to the 1950s has taken policymakers and health staff as points of entry into the power structures that run through the global health enterprise. In the last decade, there has been a surge of ethnographic work on health systems. We conceptualize the anthropology of health systems as a field; review the history of this body of knowledge; and outline emergent literatures on policymaking, HIV, hospitals, Community Health Workers, health markets, pharmaceuticals, and metrics.

Suggested Citation

  • Closser, Svea & Mendenhall, Emily & Brown, Peter & Neill, Rachel & Justice, Judith, 2022. "The anthropology of health systems: A history and review," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 300(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:300:y:2022:i:c:s0277953621006468
    DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2021.114314
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    3. Kihlström, Laura & Siemes, Lea & Huhtakangas, Moona & Keskimäki, Ilmo & Tynkkynen, Liina-Kaisa, 2023. "Power and politics in a pandemic: Insights from Finnish health system leaders during COVID-19," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 321(C).

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