Question 1

The complete collection of microorganisms in the body's ecosystem is referred to as what?

Accepted Answer

The complete collection of microorganisms in the body's ecosystem is referred to as the microbiome. Option A, microsystem, is not the commonly used term for the collection of microorganisms. Option B, human ecosystem, is too broad and can refer to the entire human body and the environment that surrounds it. Option D, biodome, refers to a man-made structure that simulates a natural environment, such as an enclosed environment for plant and animal research.

Question 2

In Chinatown in New York, Kaitlyn can treat her headache at a tuina facility, Chinese herbalist, university hospital-affiliated medical clinic, or a botánica that sells religious icons and herb from a variety of Latin American and Caribbean traditions. These options are examples of:

Accepted Answer

The options provided in Chinatown that offer different forms of healing, such as tuina, Chinese herbalism, and Latin American/Caribbean herbalism, demonstrate the concept of medical pluralism. This refers to the coexistence and integration of multiple medical systems and practices within a society or community.

Question 3

Which of the following statements accurately describes Chinese medicine?

Accepted Answer

Chinese medical practices vary widely within China, from patient to patient and also over time. While there are some common principles and practices, there is no uniform set of Chinese medical practices used by all practitioners within and outside of China. Additionally, Chinese medicine was not completely suppressed after the formation of the People's Republic of China in 1949, but instead underwent a process of standardization and integration with Western medicine. While there may have been some rejection of Western medicine in the past, there is now recognition of the value of both Chinese and Western medical approaches.

Question 4

A Shipibo shaman uses Ayahuasca, a hallucinogenic drink brewed from roots and leaves found in the rainforest, to treat spiritual and psychological maladies. Researchers interested in studying its effectiveness are studying:

Accepted Answer

The study of the medicinal use of plants and other natural substances, such as Ayahuasca, in traditional cultures is called ethnopharmacology. This field of study focuses on investigating the effectiveness and mechanisms of action of these substances.

Question 5

From the perspective of a medical anthropologist, all medical systems are based in a particular local cultural reality and therefore constitute a form of what?

Accepted Answer

From the perspective of a medical anthropologist, all medical systems are based on specific cultural beliefs, practices, and values, and therefore are considered ethnomedicine. Ethnomedicine refers to the study of cultural ideas and practices concerning health and illness, including the use of indigenous medicines and treatments.

Question 6

What approach would a medical anthropologist take to understand why some middle-class American parents with health insurance do not vaccinate their children for measles, mumps, and rubella?

Accepted Answer

The interpretivist approach in anthropology focuses on understanding the meanings, symbols, and practices of individuals and cultures. A medical anthropologist using this approach would seek to understand the beliefs, fears, and information that influence middle-class American parents' decisions not to vaccinate, rather than focusing solely on the biological or ecological aspects of disease.

Question 7

Anne Fadiman, author of The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down, studied the Hmong immigrant population in the United States. What does her work suggest is one of the biggest challenges faced by this population?

Accepted Answer

Anne Fadiman's work primarily highlights the significant language barrier faced by the Hmong immigrant population in the United States, which affects various aspects of their lives, including accessing healthcare services.

Question 8

Research revealed that residents of neighborhood X, a low-income area with few commercial businesses apart from convenience stores, had higher incidence of cardio-vascular disease than residents of the affluent neighborhood Y, which had a wide selection of grocery stores, farmer's markets, drugstore chains, exercise facilities, as well as private gyms. What non-biological factor is likely to be associated with risk of cardiovascular disease in these communities?

Accepted Answer

Social inequality, specifically the lack of access to healthy food options and exercise facilities, is likely contributing to the higher incidence of cardio-vascular disease in neighborhood X compared to neighborhood Y. Medical pluralism and alternative medical practices are not relevant factors in this context, and although genetics may play a role in cardiovascular disease risk, it is not a non-biological factor as the question specifies.

Question 9

What do scientists now think the purpose of the human microbiome might be?

Accepted Answer

Scientists now believe that the human microbiome serves as a personal ecosystem that helps combat disease by helping to digest food, synthesizing vitamins, influencing metabolism, and interacting with the immune system. It may also play a role in maintaining mental health and preventing certain chronic diseases.

Question 10

Which analytical perspective would a medical anthropologist use to explore how economic and political systems, race, class, gender, and sexuality create and perpetuate unequal access to health care?

Accepted Answer

Critical medical anthropology focuses on the ways in which social, economic, and political factors influence health and healthcare access. It examines how inequalities and power imbalances in these areas impact health outcomes, and seeks to address systemic issues that perpetuate health disparities.

Question 11

What are illness narratives?

Accepted Answer

Illness narratives are personal stories that individuals tell to explain their experiences with illness, including the onset of symptoms, the course of the illness, and the impact on their daily lives. These narratives may include descriptions of medical treatment, but they also encompass a broader range of personal experiences, emotions, and meanings associated with illness. Studying illness narratives can provide valuable insights into the subjective experience of illness and inform approaches to patient-centered care.

Question 12

Emily spent her summer vacation in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where she got plastic surgery for a fraction of what it would cost in the United States. This is an example of:

Accepted Answer

Medical migration refers to the practice of traveling to another country to receive medical treatment, typically due to lower costs or greater availability of certain procedures. In this case, Emily traveled to Buenos Aires to get plastic surgery at a lower cost than what she would have paid in the United States, making B the best choice. Medical pluralism refers to the coexistence of multiple medical systems or beliefs within a society, medical anthropology is the study of health and healing within cultural contexts, and medical ecology examines the relationship between health and the environment. While these concepts may be related to Emily's experience in some ways, they do not accurately describe the specific phenomenon of seeking medical treatment in another country.

Question 13

Travelling to Tijuana to buy high blood pressure medicine, making a pilgrimage to visit a saint's shrine for healing, and going to the rainforest to participate in a ritual guided by a Shaman are all examples of:

Accepted Answer

These examples all involve individuals traveling outside of their local areas to obtain medical treatments or alternative therapies. This is known as medical migration.

Question 14

Since 1996, what has the trend been for the rate of births by cesarean section (C-section) in the United States?

Accepted Answer

Since 1996, there has been a consistent and significant increase in the rate of C-section births in the United States. In 1996, the rate was around 20%, and by 2018, it had risen to over 30%. The reason for this increase is likely multifactorial, but cultural attitudes about childbirth certainly play a role. Additionally, medical providers may be more likely to opt for a C-section for various reasons, including legal concerns and convenience.

Question 15

Linda's health insurance does not cover contraception and only covers one annual preventative gynecological visit. That same insurance covers her husband's Viagra prescription and numerous checkups. This is an example of:

Accepted Answer

This scenario highlights how health care practices can reflect and reinforce patterns of inequality based on gender. Women may face limitations on coverage or access to certain reproductive health services, while men may have easier access to certain treatments or medications. This can perpetuate gender inequality and contribute to disparities in health outcomes.

Question 16

Geoffrey hoarsely calls his boss and describes his phlegm and high fever. Geoffrey stays home and briefly considers going to the movies, but decides not to in case someone from work sees him. The role Geoffrey has taken on is an example of:

Accepted Answer

Sickness refers to the social role and expectations associated with being ill, including behaviors like staying home from work.

Question 17

What is meant by the "health transition?"

Accepted Answer

The "health transition" refers to the significant improvements in human health that occurred during the twentieth century in many parts of the world, particularly in terms of decreased mortality rates from infectious diseases and increased life expectancies. This transition was not evenly distributed across all countries or populations, but it was a global trend.

Question 18

In the Andes mountains, a medical specialist called a curandero rubs a sick person with a guinea pig to diagnose and remove the cause of his illness. This is an example of:

Accepted Answer

This is an example of ethnomedicine, which refers to traditional healing practices and beliefs of a specific cultural group. The use of a guinea pig for diagnosis and treatment is specific to the Andean culture and is not part of biomedicine or other formal medical practices. Ethnopharmacology, on the other hand, refers to the study of traditional medicines and their pharmacological properties. Tuina is a Chinese form of massage therapy and is not relevant to this scenario.

Question 19

We are taught that antibacterial soaps and cleaning products that completely eliminate germs on surfaces and food are essential to good health. Why is this approach now under scrutiny?

Accepted Answer

The approach of completely eliminating germs on surfaces and food is now under scrutiny because we have begun to understand the importance and benefits of human microbiomes, which are the beneficial bacteria living in and on our bodies. Antibacterial products not only kill harmful bacteria but also the good bacteria that are necessary for maintaining a healthy human microbiome, leading to potential negative health outcomes.

Question 20

Itzel explains to the school nurse that her son, Tlahco, who has been listless and withdrawn in class has also been restless all night long because he is suffering from susto, a sudden fright that he got from a traumatic experience, that caused his soul to depart. What best escribes Itzel's explanation?

Accepted Answer

Itzel's explanation is an illness narrative, as she is describing Tlahco's symptoms and attributing them to a cultural belief about susto.

Quiz 14: Health, Illness, and the Body