Unit II: Components or Traits of Public

Health Sociology and Public Health Theme

Meena Kumari Shrestha

Unit II: Components or Traits of Public Health Sociology and Public Health Theme
8 hours

•Meaning of component of public health sociology

•Characteristics of various components of public health
sociology with example from the three domains of public
health in Nepalese context
•Meaning and characteristics of (a) social stratification, (b)
ethnicity and caste system, (c) family and kinship, (d) peer
groups, (e) community dynamics, (f) social organizations, and
(g) social control in relation to positive and or negative
aspects of public health themes (examples):
Unit II: Components or Traits of Public Health Sociology and Public Health Theme

Public health themes (examples):

•Production, preparation and consumption of foods (nutrition)
•bodily movements
•Air, water, sanitation, waste disposal, dwellings (environmental health)
•Alcohol, tobacco and substance abuse (life style)
•Pregnancy, child birth, newborn-child care, adolescent health, family
•planning, abortion (reproductive health)
•Immunization
•Communicable and non-communicable
•Use of Public Health Services
Public Health Sociology
Definition of Sociology:
Sociology is the science of society
Meaning and consideration of (a) social stratification, (b)
ethnicity and caste system
• Social stratification : The process by which individuals and groups are
ranked in a more or less enduring hierarchy of status is known as
stratification –Oghurn and Ninkoff.
Forms of stratification
Caste system:
The term caste was derived from Spanish and Portuguese word Caste
meaning breed or Lineage. The Portuguese used the term caste first to
denote the divisions in Indian caste system.The word caste also signifies
race or kind. The Sanskrit word for caste is Varna which means color
Meaning and consideration of (a) social stratification, (b)
ethnicity and caste system
• Caste System:
• Caste is a collection of families, bearing a common name, claiming a
common descent, from a mythical ancestoe, human and
divine,processing to follow the same hereditary calling and regarded
by those who are competent to give an opinion as forming a
singlehomogeneous community- Herbert Risely
Meaning and characteristics of
• Family is the biological social unit composed of husband,wife and
children- Eliot and Merrill
• Family is a group defined by sex relationship sufficiently precise and
enduring to provide for the proceation and upbringing of children-
Maclver
• Family is a more or less durable association of husband wife with or
without child – Obgurn and Nimkoff
Social control in relation to positive and or negative aspects of
public health core actions

• Social control refers to the system of devices whereby society brings its members
into conformity with the accepted standard of behavior. EA Rose
• Social control is the patterns of pressure which is socity exerts to maintain order
and established rules - Ogburt and Nimkoffose
• Social control is the sum of those methods by which a socity tries to influence
human behaviour to maintain a given order –Mannhein
• Social control
• Social control
 Public health sociology on production preparation
and consumption of foods( Nutrition)
Public health sociology on bodily
movements
Public health sociology on bodily
movements
 Public health sociology on Air, Water, sanitation
and waste disposal ( environmental health)
 Public health sociology on alcohol, tobacoo
and substance abuse( life style)
Public health sociology on Pregnancy , Child
birth , newborn child care, adolescent heath, family
planning , abortion ( Reproductive health)