The Social and Medical Model of Health Paradigms

1

The Social and Medical Model of Health Paradigms

Health is a situation or a state of complete social, mental and physical wellbeing, and not just infirmity or disease absence (Macdonald 2003). There exist two competing health models known as medical and social models of health. Models and factors determine the definition of diseases, illness and health. As Mechanic (1983) observed, the definition of health by a practitioner is different from the way the general society defines it. The models of health differ very much, and they also play a significant role in what should be or should not be the concern of public health. This essay will define the social and medical models of health, and discuss their similarities and differences. Health models makes us better understand why…