Socio Medical Model Of Health

Socio-medical model of health is often referred to as being a positive model of health. The socio-medical model focuses on social factors that contributes to the health and wellbeing within society. Research shows that life expectancy has risen, and death rates have fallen since the late 19th and early 20th centuries, this also includes infant mortality. This corresponded with improvements in sanitation, the building of new council houses, providing clean water and improved overall standards of living. The evidence from the research supports the view that social and environmental conditions contribute to disease and that the cause of ill health is not only located in the individual. The socio-medical model beliefs
The conflict theorists suggest that it is the poor who are more likely to have insufficient diet and live in poor housing, these areas are often in areas such as inner-cities where environmental pollution and unemployment are most common. The socio-medical model would say that the ruling groups such the owners of industries, are not willing to changes that are needed to help protect the poor from disease and illness. The socio-medical model considers the health and wellbeing of the whole person, providing holistic care, which will help to stop illnesses from re-occurring. This gives a positive approach on the individual’s physical, mental (intellectual), emotional, social health. The model also values the individual’s feelings and emotions resulting in overall better-quality care and treatment that is being provided. The socio-medical model says that an individual’s impairment or disability are caused by the way society has organised itself. The model looks at ways society can remove the barriers that are restricting life choices for individuals with an impairment or difference. When the barriers are removed, individuals with a disability can be more independent and live in equal society as well as having a choice