Contemporary Health Studies: An Introduction

Contemporary Health Studies: An Introduction provides a lively and accessible introduction to the current issues and key debates in this area. It contains a strong, up-to-date, global, social-scientific focus examining the human experience of health particularly emphasizing its social, political and environmental dimensions.

The book’s diverse content is usefully divided into three main parts. Part one sets the scene looking closely at the definition of health studies and the debates surrounding the concept of health. Part two explores different disciplines underpinning Health Studies including chapters such as sociology, psychology, anthropology and health promotion. Part three of the book explores the determinants of health and contains chapters on individual factors influencing health, policy influences on health, public health and the global context of health. Each chapter:

• Opens with a list of key learning outcomes;
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• Contains topical learning tasks;
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• Poses questions for reflection and debate;
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• Provides an in-depth case study to summarise the key arguments made.

Carefully chosen tables, figures and photographs bring the text to life, whilst the companion web-site offers additional learning resources for both students and lecturers alike.

Contemporary Health Studies: An Introduction is an essential guide for undergraduate health students written by three authors who have a wealth of teaching experience in this subject area. Their book will inspire readers to consider the human experience of health within contemporary global society as it is mediated by individual, societal and global contexts.

Lousie Warwick-Booth is course leader - health studies at Leeds Metropolitan University

Ruth Cross is senior lecturer in health at Leeds Metropolitan University

Diane Lowcock is senior lecturer in health at Leeds Metropolitan University