Infectious Disease

Abstract

There are three primary anthropological approaches to the study of infectious disease: ecological, historical, and applied. All focus on the interaction of humans and pathogens in particular ecological contexts. Cultural behaviors can increase or decrease the prevalence of disease, but social class is one of the strongest predictors of disease burden. Four analytical levels must be used in understanding culture and disease ecology: microbiological, individual behavioral, sociocultural, and political economic. Historical approaches utilize bioarcheological data and documents to show that human history has been characterized as three epidemiological transitions. These include the rise of infectious disease at the dawn of agriculture and early cities, the decline of infectious disease and improved health during the nineteenth century, and the re‐emergence of infectious disease in the past two decades. Applied medical anthropologists collaborate with public health practitioners to improve the effectiveness of disease control and prevention programs by increasing cultural acceptance and community participation.