The american roots of social epidemiology and its transnational circulation. From the african-american hypertension enigma to the who’s recommendations

3Citations
Citations of this article
9Readers
Mendeley users who have this article in their library.

Abstract

In 2008, the Commission on Social Determinants of Health at the World Health Organisation published a report demonstrating the existence of a socio-economic gradient for health. Though health inequalities had been apparent since at least the 19th century, the report introduced a bio-psycho-social aetiological model that was absent from 19th century social medicine, as well as from former WHO documents. To bio-psycho-social epidemiologists stress associated with social status is the main cause of morbidity and death. Here I begin by noting that the history social epidemiologists have written for their field tends to inscribe their work in continuity with 19th century social medicine. This contributes towards minimizing the epistemological and contextual transformations that led bio-psycho-social epidemiology to initiate a profound transformation in international health policy. Adopting an epistemological and transnational perspective, I firstly argue that bio-psycho-social epidemiology emerged from René Dubos’ historical and epistemological critique of the foundation of 19th century social medicine. I secondly show how the political and epistemological research program elaborated by Dubos developed in the US context, which was characterized both by a growing concern for chronic diseases and for racial inequalities. Finally, I show that through its transnational circulation in the United Kingdom, bio-psycho-social epidemiology was “de-racialized”. This step was a prerequisite for its aetiological model to be integrated into international public health strategies and to transform them.

References Powered by Scopus

Health inequalities among British civil servants: the Whitehall II study

2739Citations
N/AReaders
Get full text

The contribution of the social environment to host resistance: The fourth wade hampton frost lecture

1523Citations
N/AReaders
Get full text

Theories for social epidemiology in the 21st century: An ecosocial perspective

1367Citations
N/AReaders
Get full text

Cited by Powered by Scopus

Allostatic load: historical origins, promises and costs of a recent biosocial approach

5Citations
N/AReaders
Get full text

How the Social Gets Under the Skin: From the Social as Signal to Society as a Metabolic Milieu

0Citations
N/AReaders
Get full text

What’s Wrong with the Biologization of Social Inequalities in Health? A History of Social Epidemiology and Its Moral Economy of Objectivity

0Citations
N/AReaders
Get full text

Register to see more suggestions

Mendeley helps you to discover research relevant for your work.

Already have an account?

Cite

CITATION STYLE

APA

Arminjon, M. (2020). The american roots of social epidemiology and its transnational circulation. From the african-american hypertension enigma to the who’s recommendations. Gesnerus - Swiss Journal of the History of Medicine and Sciences, 77(1), 35–63. https://doi.org/10.24894/Gesn-en.2020.77002

Readers over time

‘20‘21‘22‘23‘2400.751.52.253

Readers' Seniority

Tooltip

PhD / Post grad / Masters / Doc 5

83%

Lecturer / Post doc 1

17%

Readers' Discipline

Tooltip

Social Sciences 2

33%

Economics, Econometrics and Finance 2

33%

Business, Management and Accounting 1

17%

Psychology 1

17%

Save time finding and organizing research with Mendeley

Sign up for free
0