Description
College of Health Sciences
Department of Public Health
ASSIGNMENT COVER SHEET
Course name:
Sociology of Health, Illness and Healthcare
Course number:
PHC181
CRN
Choose one of the following questions, each question has
two-part
Assignment title or task:
Assignment 1: Analysis of Health Disparities
Assignment 2: Experience of Illness and Healthcare
Delivery
Student Name:
Students ID:
Submission date:
Instructor name:
Grade:
…..out of 10
College of Health Sciences
Department of Public Health
Release Date: Sunday, 15 September 2024
Due Date: Saturday, 4 November 2024 (11:59 pm)
Instructions for submission:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Assignment must be submitted with properly filled cover sheet (Name, ID, CRN,
Submission date) in word document, Pdf is not accepted.
Word count between 600 to 700
Text size 12-Times New Roman with 1.5-line spacing.
Heading should be Bold
The text color should be Black
Do proper paraphrasing to avoid plagiarism with proper references/sources.
References must be in APA format
Assignment 1: Analysis of Health Disparities
Part 1: Comparative Analysis (300-350 words)
Choose a specific social category (e.g., socioeconomic status, race/ethnicity, gender) and analyze how it
impacts health disparities in a particular country or region. Discuss how social, cultural, political, and
economic factors contribute to differences in health outcomes within this social category. Use data or
examples from recent studies or reports to support your analysis.
Part 2: Policy Recommendation (300-350 words)
Based on your analysis in Part 1, propose a policy or intervention that could address the health
disparities identified. Explain how this policy or intervention could mitigate the impact of social, cultural,
political, and economic factors on health outcomes. Discuss the potential challenges and benefits of
implementing this policy in the chosen country or region.
Assignment 2: Experience of Illness and Healthcare Delivery
Part 1: Personal or Case Study Reflection (300-350 words)
College of Health Sciences
Department of Public Health
Reflect on a personal experience or a case study involving an individual’s experience with illness and
healthcare delivery. Describe how social factors (e.g., social support, socioeconomic status, cultural
beliefs) influenced their experience of illness and interactions with healthcare services. Highlight any
barriers or facilitators they encountered during their healthcare journey.
Part 2: Sociological Analysis (300-350 words)
Using sociological theories and concepts discussed in the course, analyze the experience described in
Part 1. Consider how factors such as social categories, healthcare policies, and cultural attitudes impact
the individual’s experience of health and illness. Discuss how understanding these sociological aspects
can improve the delivery of healthcare services and support better health outcomes.
College of Health Sciences
Department of Public Health
Rheumatoid arthritis
I can remember a friend, Abdullah, who suffered from a chronic disease, rheumatoid
arthritis, which interfered with the majority of his activities. Several of his social determinants,
such as his economic status, culture, and his family members and friends, played a significant
role in his experience throughout the different realms of the healthcare system. Abdullah had a
low-paying job; he had a hard time paying for his prescriptions and doctor appointments (Lwin
et al., 2020). This is evidenced by the fact that he was forced to decide whether to spend money
going for a check or spend the same on food or rent.
Cultural beliefs also occupied a relevant position in constructing his realities. Consider
an instance in which a culture supports traditional medicine; Abdullah went for herbal remedies
suggested by his family members and only sought modern meds medicine if it was essential.
This made him wait for a long time before he sought professional health care. Thus, his illness
had progressed to a more severe stage than it should have. When he did, he faced obstacles like
spending much time waiting at the public health clinics and complications from handling
insurance papers, which made an already stressful situation.
There was a lack of social support for him, which was an enabler in seeking care. To
some extent, they acted as caregivers who supported Abdullah physically, emotionally, and at
times financially to enable him to undertake treatment sessions which, at some point, he could
not afford. He discovered that healthcare delivery was full of challenges for him, but systems
were in place that supported him. The restriction to healthcare social networks that he used, the
College of Health Sciences
Department of Public Health
detailed complexities of the system, and the economic constraints revealed the inequality in
society regarding access to quality healthcare. The combination of these effects had a bearing on
how he felt about his sickness in a way that was tied to his health results.
Part 2: Integration of Sociological Perspective
Looking at sociological theories such as the social determinants of health and their
relation to Abdullah’s education and culture, one can analyze his case, recognize its causes and
effects, and suggest solutions. In this case, Abdullah’s low-income status deterred him from
seeking proper health care because of the expenses involved, hence delaying his treatment and
worsening his condition. This parallels the notion of ‘health disparity’ whereby the overall poor
or lesser privileged will struggle to deal with long-term ailments. Abdullah’s case is an excellent
example of Sociologist Michael Marmot’s theory of the ‘Social Gradient in health/argument of
social determination theory, which shows that people with low income or lower job status
usually have poorer health.
Culture is also pointed out as an essential factor that influences beliefs. Abdullah’s first
instances of seeking treatment from a shaman can be best understood through the ”cultural
competence” model, which shows how treatment experiences are micro culturally bounded. He
delayed contact with the formal health care system, an example for providers to appreciate and
incorporate cultural beliefs in patient care to increase utilization. Intensifying the above
intersectionality theory, it states that individuals’ different social categories, including gender,
College of Health Sciences
Department of Public Health
ethnicity, and class, comprise various healthcare experiences (Cockerham & Scambler, 2021).
Abdullah could not avoid many challenges in a culturally traditional background.
The policy and system also defined Abdullah’s healthcare experience. Massive wait
times, language barriers, and bureaucratic insurance models put up by public health systems are
institutional factors of access that primarily affect people with low SES. This analysis, therefore,
pinpoints the need for a unit healthcare system that embraces cultural diversity and the
socioeconomic status of the society. Showing that social classifications affect health and
bitterness, healthcare services will be able to adjust to fit the needs of the people more, thereby
enhancing the population’s health status. These sociological elements can be resolved to improve
healthcare fairness and guarantee that people like Abdullah get healthcare services on time,
affordably, and using culturally appropriate methods.
College of Health Sciences
Department of Public Health
References
Cockerham, W. C., & Scambler, G. (2021). Medical sociology and sociological theory. The
wiley blackwell companion to medical sociology, 22-44.
Lwin, M. N., Serhal, L., Holroyd, C., & Edwards, C. J. (2020). Rheumatoid arthritis: the impact
of mental health on disease: a narrative review. Rheumatology and therapy, 7(3), 457471.
Department of Public Health
ASSIGNMENT COVER SHEET
Course name:
Sociology of Health, Illness and Healthcare
Course number:
PHC181
CRN
Choose one of the following questions, each question has
two-part
Assignment title or task:
Assignment 1: Analysis of Health Disparities
Assignment 2: Experience of Illness and Healthcare
Delivery
Student Name:
Students ID:
Submission date:
Instructor name:
Grade:
…..out of 10
College of Health Sciences
Department of Public Health
Release Date: Sunday, 15 September 2024
Due Date: Saturday, 4 November 2024 (11:59 pm)
Instructions for submission:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Assignment must be submitted with properly filled cover sheet (Name, ID, CRN,
Submission date) in word document, Pdf is not accepted.
Word count between 600 to 700
Text size 12-Times New Roman with 1.5-line spacing.
Heading should be Bold
The text color should be Black
Do proper paraphrasing to avoid plagiarism with proper references/sources.
References must be in APA format
Assignment 1: Analysis of Health Disparities
Part 1: Comparative Analysis (300-350 words)
Choose a specific social category (e.g., socioeconomic status, race/ethnicity, gender) and analyze how it
impacts health disparities in a particular country or region. Discuss how social, cultural, political, and
economic factors contribute to differences in health outcomes within this social category. Use data or
examples from recent studies or reports to support your analysis.
Part 2: Policy Recommendation (300-350 words)
Based on your analysis in Part 1, propose a policy or intervention that could address the health
disparities identified. Explain how this policy or intervention could mitigate the impact of social, cultural,
political, and economic factors on health outcomes. Discuss the potential challenges and benefits of
implementing this policy in the chosen country or region.
Assignment 2: Experience of Illness and Healthcare Delivery
Part 1: Personal or Case Study Reflection (300-350 words)
College of Health Sciences
Department of Public Health
Reflect on a personal experience or a case study involving an individual’s experience with illness and
healthcare delivery. Describe how social factors (e.g., social support, socioeconomic status, cultural
beliefs) influenced their experience of illness and interactions with healthcare services. Highlight any
barriers or facilitators they encountered during their healthcare journey.
Part 2: Sociological Analysis (300-350 words)
Using sociological theories and concepts discussed in the course, analyze the experience described in
Part 1. Consider how factors such as social categories, healthcare policies, and cultural attitudes impact
the individual’s experience of health and illness. Discuss how understanding these sociological aspects
can improve the delivery of healthcare services and support better health outcomes.
College of Health Sciences
Department of Public Health
Rheumatoid arthritis
I can remember a friend, Abdullah, who suffered from a chronic disease, rheumatoid
arthritis, which interfered with the majority of his activities. Several of his social determinants,
such as his economic status, culture, and his family members and friends, played a significant
role in his experience throughout the different realms of the healthcare system. Abdullah had a
low-paying job; he had a hard time paying for his prescriptions and doctor appointments (Lwin
et al., 2020). This is evidenced by the fact that he was forced to decide whether to spend money
going for a check or spend the same on food or rent.
Cultural beliefs also occupied a relevant position in constructing his realities. Consider
an instance in which a culture supports traditional medicine; Abdullah went for herbal remedies
suggested by his family members and only sought modern meds medicine if it was essential.
This made him wait for a long time before he sought professional health care. Thus, his illness
had progressed to a more severe stage than it should have. When he did, he faced obstacles like
spending much time waiting at the public health clinics and complications from handling
insurance papers, which made an already stressful situation.
There was a lack of social support for him, which was an enabler in seeking care. To
some extent, they acted as caregivers who supported Abdullah physically, emotionally, and at
times financially to enable him to undertake treatment sessions which, at some point, he could
not afford. He discovered that healthcare delivery was full of challenges for him, but systems
were in place that supported him. The restriction to healthcare social networks that he used, the
College of Health Sciences
Department of Public Health
detailed complexities of the system, and the economic constraints revealed the inequality in
society regarding access to quality healthcare. The combination of these effects had a bearing on
how he felt about his sickness in a way that was tied to his health results.
Part 2: Integration of Sociological Perspective
Looking at sociological theories such as the social determinants of health and their
relation to Abdullah’s education and culture, one can analyze his case, recognize its causes and
effects, and suggest solutions. In this case, Abdullah’s low-income status deterred him from
seeking proper health care because of the expenses involved, hence delaying his treatment and
worsening his condition. This parallels the notion of ‘health disparity’ whereby the overall poor
or lesser privileged will struggle to deal with long-term ailments. Abdullah’s case is an excellent
example of Sociologist Michael Marmot’s theory of the ‘Social Gradient in health/argument of
social determination theory, which shows that people with low income or lower job status
usually have poorer health.
Culture is also pointed out as an essential factor that influences beliefs. Abdullah’s first
instances of seeking treatment from a shaman can be best understood through the ”cultural
competence” model, which shows how treatment experiences are micro culturally bounded. He
delayed contact with the formal health care system, an example for providers to appreciate and
incorporate cultural beliefs in patient care to increase utilization. Intensifying the above
intersectionality theory, it states that individuals’ different social categories, including gender,
College of Health Sciences
Department of Public Health
ethnicity, and class, comprise various healthcare experiences (Cockerham & Scambler, 2021).
Abdullah could not avoid many challenges in a culturally traditional background.
The policy and system also defined Abdullah’s healthcare experience. Massive wait
times, language barriers, and bureaucratic insurance models put up by public health systems are
institutional factors of access that primarily affect people with low SES. This analysis, therefore,
pinpoints the need for a unit healthcare system that embraces cultural diversity and the
socioeconomic status of the society. Showing that social classifications affect health and
bitterness, healthcare services will be able to adjust to fit the needs of the people more, thereby
enhancing the population’s health status. These sociological elements can be resolved to improve
healthcare fairness and guarantee that people like Abdullah get healthcare services on time,
affordably, and using culturally appropriate methods.
College of Health Sciences
Department of Public Health
References
Cockerham, W. C., & Scambler, G. (2021). Medical sociology and sociological theory. The
wiley blackwell companion to medical sociology, 22-44.
Lwin, M. N., Serhal, L., Holroyd, C., & Edwards, C. J. (2020). Rheumatoid arthritis: the impact
of mental health on disease: a narrative review. Rheumatology and therapy, 7(3), 457471.
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