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Agenda for an anthropology of pharmaceutical practice

Author

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  • Nichter, Mark
  • Vuckovic, Nancy

Abstract

Over the last two decades, patterns of pharmaceutical-related behavior and the cultural interpretation of medicines have been examined by anthropologists in several cultural settings. In this paper the authors identify additional issues warranting study so as to broaden the scope of pharmaceutical anthropology, utilizing as a unifying focus the examination of pharmaceutical use in the context of social transformation. Ten interactive themes are presented which bridge micro-level and macro-level investigations of pharmaceutical use. The discussion moves from the discourse on 'rational drug use' to the rationales which underscore drug prescription, manufacture, and demand.

Suggested Citation

  • Nichter, Mark & Vuckovic, Nancy, 1994. "Agenda for an anthropology of pharmaceutical practice," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 39(11), pages 1509-1525, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:39:y:1994:i:11:p:1509-1525
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    Cited by:

    1. Schumaker, Lynette Louise & Bond, Virginia A., 2008. "Antiretroviral therapy in Zambia: Colours, 'spoiling', 'talk' and the meaning of antiretrovirals," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 67(12), pages 2126-2134, December.
    2. Chandler, Clare I.R. & Hall-Clifford, Rachel & Asaph, Turinde & Pascal, Magnussen & Clarke, Siân & Mbonye, Anthony K., 2011. "Introducing malaria rapid diagnostic tests at registered drug shops in Uganda: Limitations of diagnostic testing in the reality of diagnosis," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 72(6), pages 937-944, March.
    3. Ramdas, Sahienshadebie, 2012. "Cruel disease, cruel medicine: Self-treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis with harmful chemical substances in Suriname," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 75(6), pages 1097-1105.
    4. Palmer, Jennifer J. & Kelly, Ann H. & Surur, Elizeous I. & Checchi, Francesco & Jones, Caroline, 2014. "Changing landscapes, changing practice: Negotiating access to sleeping sickness services in a post-conflict society," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 120(C), pages 396-404.
    5. Teixeira, Maria & Guillaume, Agnès & Ferrand, Michèle & Adjamabgo, Agnès & Bajos, Nathalie, 2012. "Representations and uses of emergency contraception in West Africa. A social anthropological reading of a northern medicinal product," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 75(1), pages 148-155.
    6. Carla F. Rodrigues, 2020. "Self-medication with antibiotics in Maputo, Mozambique: practices, rationales and relationships," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 6(1), pages 1-12, December.
    7. Craig, Sienna R. & Adams, Lisa V. & Spielberg, Stephen P. & Campbell, Benjamin, 2009. "Pediatric therapeutics and medicine administration in resource-poor settings: A review of barriers and an agenda for interdisciplinary approaches to improving outcomes," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 69(11), pages 1681-1690, December.
    8. Lasco, Gideon & Yu, Vincen Gregory, 2022. "Pharmaceutical messianism and the COVID-19 pandemic," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 292(C).
    9. Helen Lambert & Meixuan Chen & Christie Cabral, 2019. "Antimicrobial resistance, inflammatory responses: a comparative analysis of pathogenicities, knowledge hybrids and the semantics of antibiotic use," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 5(1), pages 1-13, December.
    10. Hutchinson, Eleanor & Mundua, Sunday & Ochero, Lydia & Mbonye, Anthony & Clarke, Sian E., 2022. "Life in the buffer zone: Social relations and surplus health workers in Uganda's medicines retail sector," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 300(C).
    11. Childerhose, Janet E. & MacDonald, Margaret E., 2013. "Health consumption as work: The home pregnancy test as a domesticated health tool," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 86(C), pages 1-8.
    12. Luechai Sringernyuang & Tida Sottiyotin, 2022. "“Ya Luk Ka Tan Yoo”: An Ethnography of Filial Piety Culture, Medication Usage, and Health Perceptions of the Elderly in Rural Southern Thailand," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-10, September.
    13. Mackay, Bruce, 2008. "From life insurance to safer sex - Reflections of a marketing man," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 66(10), pages 2168-2172, May.
    14. Baxerres, Carine & Le Hesran, Jean-Yves, 2011. "Where do pharmaceuticals on the market originate? An analysis of the informal drug supply in Cotonou, Benin," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 73(8), pages 1249-1256.

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