Book

The people's health: medicine and anthropology in a Navajo community

Appleton-Century-CroftsNew York, Appleton-Century-Crofts [1970] • Published In 1970 • Pages:

By: Adair, John, Deuschle, Kurt W., Barnett, Clifford R., Rabin, David L..

Abstract
In 1955 a joint field health research project was undertaken on the Navajo Reservation, sponsored jointly by the Navajo Tribe, Cornell University Medical College, and the U.S. Public Health Service. The intent of the project was to develop effective medical services on the reservation and to see how knowledge obtained from this development could be applied to other ethnic peoples in similar socioeconomic circumstances, and to U.S. medical problems as a whole. The above investigation also included a detailed discussion on various types of diseases then in evidence on the reservation. Comparisons were made on concepts of health and disease held by the Navajo, in contrast to those held by the public health physician. Given particular attention in the source are the key roles played by the 'health visitors' -- bilingual Navajos who act as assistants to the public health nurse, primarily in the collection of patient information. Their integrative roles in bringing modern medical services to the Navajo are discussed at great length in the source. The work concludes with a brief but enlightening analysis of the various working relationships involved among members of the field team (e.g., anthropologists and physicians).
Subjects
Public health and sanitation
Medical personnel
Medical care
Hospitals and clinics
Acculturation and culture contact
Morbidity
culture
Navajo
HRAF PubDate
2004
Region
North America
Sub Region
Southwest and Basin
Document Type
Book
Evaluation
Creator Types
Ethnologist
Physician
Document Rating
5: Excellent Primary Data
Analyst
M. A. Marcus ; Marlene Martin ; 1985
Field Date
1955-1962
Coverage Date
1955
Coverage Place
Many Farms-Rough Rock District, Arizona, United States
Notes
[by] John Adair [and] Kurt W. Deuschle. With a chapter by Clifford R. Barnett and David L. Rabin
Includes bibliographical references (p. 169-173)
LCCN
79110158
LCSH
Navajo Indians