Medical Sociology in Mexico

Abstract

In this paper the field of medical sociology in México during the last 30 years is analyzed. First, a description is made of the three founding schools in this country: a) the tradition of medical anthropology, based on the National School of Anthropology and History, the Institute of Anthropological Research (National Autonomous University of Mexico), and the Center of Research and Graduate Studies in Social Anthropology; b) the tradition of social medicine, prompted by the Metropolitan Autonomous University (Xochimilco) since the creation of the Masters in Social Medicine in 1975; and c) the sociology of public health, prompted by the National Institute of Public Health since its foundation in 1987. Then, the article presents a brief review of the main contributions of each school, as well as of the main academic debates between each other (which, in turn, helped to define the area of influence of each one of them). Afterwards, the main achievements of the “second generation” of Mexican medical sociologists are described. A distinction is made between theoretical, methodological and empirical contributions. Among the later, this article focuses on reproductive health, violence against women, subjectivity and health, and health policy, medical practice and health services utilization.