Main description:

This handbook highlights the relevance of the social sciences in global public health and their significantly crucial role in the explanation of health and illness in different population groups, the improvement of health, and the prevention of illnesses around the world. Knowledge generated via social science theories and research methodologies allows healthcare providers, policy-makers, and politicians to understand and appreciate the lived experience of their people, and to provide sensitive health and social care to them at a time of most need.

Social sciences, such as medical sociology, medical anthropology, social psychology, and public health are the disciplines that examine the sociocultural causes and consequences of health and illness. It is evident that biomedicine cannot be the only answer to improving the health of people. What makes social sciences important in global public health is the critical role social, cultural, economic, and political factors play in determining or influencing the health of individuals, communities, and the larger society and nation.

This handbook is comprehensive in its nature and contents, which range from a more disciplinary-based approach and theoretical and methodological frameworks to different aspects of global public health. It covers:

Discussions of the social science disciplines and their essence, concepts, and theories relating to global public health
Theoretical frameworks in social sciences that can be used to explain health and illness in populations
Methodological inquiries that social science researchers can use to examine global public health issues and understand social issues relating to health in different population groups and regions
Examples of social science research in global public health areas and concerns as well as population groups

The Handbook of Social Sciences and Global Public Health is a useful reference for students, researchers, lecturers, practitioners, and policymakers in global health, public health, and social science disciplines; and libraries in universities and health and social care institutions. It offers readers a good understanding of the issues that can impact the health and well-being of people in society, which may lead to culturally sensitive health and social care for people that ultimately will lead to a more equitable society worldwide.

Contents:

Preliminary ToC of approximately 170 entries

Chapter 1: The essence of social sciences in global public health: An introduction

Part I: Social Sciences and Health Disciplines

Chapter 1: Medical sociology

Chapter 2: Medical anthropology

Chapter 3: Feminism and women's studies

Chapter 4: Critical social work

Chapter 5: Social psychology

Chapter 6: Social epidemiology

Chapter 7: Public health and global health

Chapter 8: Health promotion

Chapter 9: Health education

Chapter 10: Community nursing

Chapter 11: Community medicine

Chapter 12: Primary health care

Chapter 13: Occupational therapy

Chapter 14: Political science

Chapter 15: Traditional medicine

Part II: Theoretical Frameworks and Social Sciences

Chapter 1: Grand theories in sociology (Functionalism, Conflict theory, Weberianism)

Chapter 2: Stigma of Erving Goffman

Chapter 3: Illness experience and chaos of Arthur Frank

Chapter 4: Biographical disruption of Michael Bury

Chapter 5: Therapeutic landscape

Chapter 6: Social capital/Social support/Social connection

Chapter 7: Resilience theory

Chapter 8: Risk theory

Chapter 9: Stress and coping theory

Chapter 10: Health promoting theory

Chapter 11: Critical public health framework

Chapter 12: Explanatory model of health of Arthur Kleinman

Chapter 13: Liminality theory

Chapter 14: Intersectionality theory

Chapter 15: Gender identity and gender role theory

Chapter 16: Social justice and health

Chapter 17: Human rights and health

Chapter 18: Social determinants of health

Chapter 19: TheoryU and extended epistemology framework

Chapter 20: Healthcare system (Universal Health Coverage/Traditional health care/medicine)

Part III: Research Methodologies, Social Sciences and Global Health

Chapter 1: Social constructionism

Chapter 2: Symbolic interactionism and postmodernism

Chapter 3: Critical theory

Chapter 4: Feminist methodology

Chapter 5: Decolonising methodology

Chapter 6: Cultural sensitivity approach

Chapter 7: Cross-cultural research

Chapter 8: Common qualitative research methods (including ID, FG & Narrative research)

Chapter 9: Ethnography

Chapter 10: Participatory Action Research

Chapter 11: Feminist action research (FAR)

Chapter 12: Participatory rural appraisal method

Chapter 13: Case study research

Chapter 14: Grounded theory research

Chapter 15: Unobtrusive methods

Chapter 16: Auto-ethnography

Chapter 17: Community mapping method

Chapter 18: Social surveys

Chapter 19: Virtual research methodology (including virtual interview, email, chat, virtual focus group, virtual ethnography)

Chapter 20: Social media as research tool

Chapter 21: Walking interviewing method

Chapter 22: Digital storytelling method

Chapter 23: Freelisting method

Chapter 24: Social epidemiology

Chapter 25: GIS method

Chapter 26: Delphi method

Chapter 27: Q methodology

Chapter 28: Social network method

Chapter 29: Looping methodology

Chapter 30: Mixed methods research

Chapter 31: Ethical issues in social sciences and global public health

Part IV: The Role of Social Sciences in Emerging/Infectious Illnesses

Chapter 1: Ebola

Chapter 2: SARS

Chapter 3: MERS

Chapter 4: Zika

Chapter 5: Influenza

Chapter 6: Covid-19

Chapter 7: Leprosy

Chapter 8: Tuberculosis

Chapter 9: Hepatitis

Chapter 10: Malaria

Chapter 11: Dengue fever

Chapter 12: Sexually transmitted infections (STI)

Chapter 13: Polio

Chapter 14: Cholera

Chapter 15: Hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD)

Chapter 16: Tropical diseases

Part V: The Role of Social Sciences in Chronic Illnesses

Chapter 1: Breast cancer

Chapter 2: Prostate cancer

Chapter 3: Lung cancer

Chapter 4: Childhood cancer

Chapter 5: Heart disease

Chapter 6: HIV/AIDS

Chapter 7: Mental health/illness

Chapter 8: Diabetes/Obesity

Chapter 9: Dementia

Chapter 10: Disabilities

Chapter 11: Asthma

Chapter 12: Pain

Chapter 13: Stroke

Chapter 14: Epilepsy

Chapter 15: Eating disorders

Chapter 16: Substance abuse

Chapter 17: Domestic violence

Chapter 18: Violence in conflict situations (wars, etc.)

Chapter 19: Food insecurity and malnutrition

Part VI: Social Science Research Projects, Sexuality, and Sexual and Reproductive Health

Chapter 1: Motherhood

Chapter 2: Infertility

Chapter 3: Abortion

Chapter 4: Miscarriage

Chapter 5: Childbirth and postpartum practices

Chapter 6: Infant feeding practices

Chapter 7: Sexuality and LGBTI

Chapter 8: Sexuality and young people

Chapter 9: Sexuality and older persons

Chapter 10: Sexual dysfunction in women

Chapter 11: Sexual dysfunction in men

Chapter 12: HIV/AIDS among women/men in South Africa

Chapter 13: HIV/AIDS among women who are mothers in Thailand

Chapter 14: HIV/AIDS among people in Kenya

Chapter 15: Sexual and reproductive health of young immigrants in Australia

Chapter 16: Sexual and reproductive health needs among people with physical disabilities

Chapter 17: TBD

Chapter 18: TBD

Chapter 19: TBD

Chapter 20: TBD

Part VII: Social Science Research Projects and Mental Health/Illness

Chapter 1: Mental health among ex-service men/women

Chapter 2: Mental health of incarcerated individuals

Chapter 3: Mental health among young people

Chapter 4: Mental health in older persons

Chapter 5: Mental health among Indigenous peoples

Chapter 6: Mental health among young refugees

Chapter 7: Mental health among homeless people

Chapter 8: Dementia and older persons in Australia

Chapter 9: Dementia and older persons in UK

Chapter 10: Dementia and older persons in the United States

Chapter 11: Loneliness and social isolation in older persons during Covid-19

Chapter 12: Impact of Covid-19 on vulnerable families

Chapter 13: Impact of Covid-19 on healthcare professionals

Chapter 14: TBD

Chapter 15: TBD

Part VIII: Social Science Research Projects and the Health of Socially Excluded and Marginalised Groups

Chapter 1: Indigenous people in Canada

Chapter 2: Indigenous people in Australia

Chapter 3: Indigenous people in the United States

Chapter 4: Indigenous people in New Zealand

Chapter 5: Ethnic minority groups

Chapter 6: Refugees and Immigrants

Chapter 7: Homeless people

Chapter 8: Incarcerated individuals

Chapter 9: Ex-prisoners

Chapter 10: People living with poverty

Chapter 11: Roma and other gypsies

Chapter 12: Sex workers

Chapter 13: The health of LGBTI individuals

Chapter 14: Sexual violence and trans women of colour

Chapter 15: Sexual violence among street sex workers

Chapter 16: Food insecurity among immigrant families

Chapter 17: Obesity in children from minority groups

Chapter 18: Sex trafficking of men, girls and women

Part IX: Social Science Research, Globalisation and Climate Change

Chapter 1: Globalisation and its impact on population health (including the spread of viruses like Covid-19)

Chapter 2: Globalisation and migration

Chapter 3: Globalisation and poverty

Chapter 4: Globalisation and food security/insecurity

Chapter 5: Globalisation and mental health

Chapter 6: Globalisation and physical health

Chapter 7: Globalisation and substance abuse

Chapter 8: Globalisation and trafficking of women/children

Chapter 9: Glogalisation and abuse and violence

Chapter 10: Climate change and infectious diseases impacting on well-being of people

Chapter 11: Climate change and poverty

Chapter 12: Climate change and food insecurity

Chapter 13: Climate change and mental health

Chapter 14: Climate change and physical health

Chapter 15: TBD