Development Africa

Medical Sociology for Nurses by Dr. Debie LeBeau Spence

Contact Dr. LeBeau Spence

Dr. Debie LeBeau Spence and her colleagues designed several workbooks to be used for distance education in Namibia. Although the following workbook was for her medical sociology courses, it created a unique blend of anthropology and sociology for nurses studying cross-cultural issues. In this workbook, students learn how culture shapes what a society believes and does about disease and illness, and that there are aspect of health other than simply the biological manifestation of an illness. In a culturally diverse country like Namibia, there are many beliefs about health versus disease and illness. When treating patients, it is important for the health care professional to understand that disease and illness are a result of many interrelated aspects of a person's life, including their natural environment, their biological self and their socio-cultural environment. Within the study of the anthropology/sociology of health there are three distinct areas of interest: the study of indigenous health care systems, the study of the biomedical health care system and the impact of society on health and illness. In addition, sociological and anthropological theories are used to define and explain people's health seeking behavior within these areas.

Visit our other pages

Dr. LeBeau's home page

Social Science Research Workbook

HIV and AIDS in Africa

Ethnicity and Inequality in Namibia

Traditional Medicine in Africa

Izilwane Research in Africa

Gender Issues in Africa

Gender Training and Research Programme (GTRP/ UNAM)

Dr. Debie LeBeau learning about spirit mediumship from a traditional healer

Dr LeBeau learning about traditional medicine from a Sangoma

Poor sanitation is a social-environmental factor that impacts health and illness Safe sex (human behaviour) also influences health

There is more to health than biological illnesses, but social environment is also a factor. Poor sanitation is a social-environmental factor that impacts health and illness, while human behavior can reduce health risks.

A pharmacy at a rural clinic A traditional pharmacy
In many rural areas in Namibia, traditional pharmacies are better stocked than government run clinics.

The workbook presented on this page was written for Sociology for Nurses - but contain anthropology theories, concepts and research.

Please note that this workbook was prepared for the University of Namibia, Centre for External Studies and should be referenced as such.

Please note that this is ONLY A DRAFT of the final workbook. Final editing was done at the Centre for External Studies.

This workbook can only be used for educational purposes and must acknowledge the University of Namibia, Centre for External Studies as the publisher and the authors of individual workbooks. The workbook available for FREE download below should be referenced as:

LeBeau, Debie and Sandra Marias, 1997. Anthropology/Sociology of Medicine for Nurses: Distance Education in Namibia. DRAFT. UNAM/CES: Windhoek.

Click here to go to the Medical Anthropology/Sociology Workbook for Nurses

For other publications not found on this website go to:
http://unam-na.academia.edu/DebieLeBeauSpence

Contact Dr. Debie LeBeau
For further information and copies of publications contact:

By Phone or email:                                By Surface Mail:
                                                                         Debie LeBeau
PHONE: +1-915-988-2550                                      Silver Fern Ranch
EMAIL: lebeau@developmentafrica.com                   55013-B 62/180 HWY
                          or                                                       El Paso, Tx 79938
           dr_lebeau@yahoo.com (dr_lebeau)