Between biological and social factors: a study of Brazilian epidemiology congresses, 1990-2002

Revista Brasileira de Epidemiologia

Ianni, Aurea Maria Zöllner¹ 

[1] Santa Casa de São Paulo

关键词: Epidemiology;    Biological;    Social;    Social sciences;    Natural sciences;    Public health;   

DOI  :  10.1590/S1415-790X2008000100003

学科分类：过敏症与临床免疫学

来源: SciELO

【 摘 要 】

The discussionon the concepts of biological and social factors in the determination of thehealth-illness process is a basic theme in Public Health in Brazil, and in theepidemiological field. This article presents the results of a qualitative researchon the records of Brazilian Epidemiology Congresses in the period between 1990and 2002. Its objective is to identify the notions of biological and socialfactors, seeking to recognize the theoretical assumptions underlying them. Resultsdemonstrated that the concept of social factor is mentioned mainly in the sphereof 'societary', anchored in the dissociation between natural and social sciences.The biological factor is associated with the individual and clinical sphereof the health-illness process, seldom attributed to the sphere of collective,and it is perceived as the bearer of the concept of objectivity. In the biological-socialrelation, the environment appears as an independent category; the biologicalfactor also appears, in an incipient form, as a complex, historical and intrinsicallysocial concept. The analysis pointed toward the need for a theoretical redefinitionthat could enable the advancement of knowledge in the area, and, consequently,of health practices based on Epidemiology. The research project has been throughthe Etical Research Committee of the Instituto de Saúde SESSP and wasaproved.

【 授权许可】

CC BY