Deck 8: Culture, Subculture and Constructions of Health Risk

Question 1

Think about the idea of relative risk. Are there any less-than-healthy behaviors that you have engaged in because of something you thought was more important?

Answer 1

Idea of relative risk:
Relative risk is the ratio of event occurrence probability (development of disease) exposed to event comparison with non-exposed group. A subculture is created within one or two communities. These communities are highly concentrated with marginalization and poverty.
Potential violence, school dropout, transmission of HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) and certain other sex transmission infections are risks of current situation.
These are considered as risks, however in comparison with basic needs of resources the perception of ongoing connection to social unit. Here, money outweighs the concerns; others are concerned as risk but as relative risk.
Ms. X did not involve in much physical activity and could not balance her body mass index (BMI). This invited number of health disorders; however, she could not manage doing some physical exercises due to her tight work schedule.

Question 2

Risk is not an absolute term; there are issues of meaning involved. How does this intersect with culture?

Answer 2

Intersection of risk with culture:
Risk is not a complete term there are number of issues involved in its meaning. To work in public perspective certain behaviors, beliefs, and social practices are considered as risky or event of risk. In present case, risks of infection, physical functioning, injury, or relative biomedical conditions of health are considered.
The intersection of risk and culture arrives from public perspective of health. For example, a sex worker does not use condom to transmit sexual diseases easily (public perspective). The socio-cultural aspect is that the worker has an obligation to support her family through such job risk. Here, risk is not earning income to provide to her family. Hence, the socio cultural aspect determines risk intensity that intersects both the concepts.

Question 3

Some of the health risk behaviors described in this chapter are or were viewed as sacrifices necessary to maintain a connection with a social group. Why do you think this is such a compelling motive?

Answer 3

Health risk behaviors are sacrifices required for maintaining social group connection - compelling motive:
Social group is two or many members with same characteristics, standards, traditions, and value system that interact to bring unity among them. Health risk is attributes of bodily risk due to hereditary or behavioral traits developing health disorder or diseases.
The society and its traditional values compel an individual to sacrifice certain factors like food, lifestyle, work, and personal safety.
• An individual is compelled to earn for her family by any means get into trap of sexual work. These people are affected with number of sexual diseases due to unsafe sex.
• Some people are compelled to prepare high fat food to maintain their social role. This creates obesity, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes. This brings the risk of low social standing.
• In public health perspective, youth are compelled to display violent behavior symbolizing esteem power and social role. This brought risk of lack of resources and victimization.