Get 20M+ Full-Text Papers For Less Than $1.50/day. Start a 14-Day Trial for You or Your Team.

Learn More →

T.P. Bayliss Smith and R.G. Feachem (eds): Subsistence and Survival (Academic Press London 1977)

T.P. Bayliss Smith and R.G. Feachem (eds): Subsistence and Survival (Academic Press London 1977) There are several chapters of cbnsiderable ideas to health workers and politicians the interest, including Hornabrook’s critical review world over. Thus even though the of the International Biological Programmes circumstances are alien to us, we in Australia do recognise the principles. The politicians may studies on human adaptability in New Guinea. not talk about removing control of health care He summarises the mass of information gained on Karkar Island and at Lufa but expresses from professionals, but they do think about it, just as administrators think of sending the disappointment at the latk of clearly defined aims and questions the usefulness of such large doctors to the outback and integrating all forms of health care. And what up-to-date health multi-disciplinary studies. He also briefly worker disagrees with the “put prevention describes endemic cretinism and kuru as first” policy or does not dream of “mobilising examples of diseases arising from the breakdown of a delicately established ecological the masses to participate in their own health balance and emphasises the value of an care”? ecological perspective when studying disease. Peter Wilenski has produced a very Other chapters are concerned with readable and stimulating book. The section on nutrition and energy flows. Sinnet describes his the battle against schistosomiasis, for example, studies of nutritional adaptation among the is a fascinating account of applied Murapim of Enga. He concludes that although comprehensive epidemiology. The beginner will the Murapim are physically fit and well adapted find it to be an excellent introduction to health to their marginal protein intake of 25g a day, services in China and for the more serious nutritional factors probably do contribute to there is an abundance of references. A student possible omission is mental health, but that the moderately high infant mortality and crude death rates observed. Any improvement in may need a whole new monograph. nutrition must depend upon crop N. Shiraev, diversification, improved food storage, improved communications and economic Division of Health Services Research, expansion. The problems of surveys of food Health Commirsion of New South Wales. intake, especially when they are not accompanied by clinical study of the nutrition of the population, are well illustrated in some of the other chapters. Margaret McArthur is severely critical of some of Rappaport’s T.P. Bayliss Smith and R.G. Feachem (eds): conclusions from his studies of the Tsembaga. Subsistence and Survival (Academic Press She shows that his suggestions that the Kaiko London 1977) pig killing festival and the eating of salt before fighting have nutritional value are unlikely to be true. Morren looks at energy‘production and This book is both fascinating and use in three highland groups who vary from infuriating. The authors are drawn from predominantly hunter-gatherers to people who disparate disciplines and many of the chapters depend primarily on growing sweet potato and are based on doctoral studies undertaken in herding pigs. In the predominantly agricultural Papua New Guinea. While the range of groups about forty per cent of effort is spent disciplines, from anthropology through on herding and providing food for pigs. It may geography to public health engineering and be no coincidence that the hunter-gatherers medicine, is necessary for the wide study of were the best nourished group. Bayliss-Smith ecology it introduces a measure of mutual shows that cultural evolution towards a modern incomprehensibility which is not entirely society usually involves a less efficient use of Few people will gain overcome in this book. energy. much from a chapter by Roy Wagner entitled Clarke in a chapter titled ‘the structures of “Scientific and Indigenous Papuan permanence’ argues that ‘palaeotechnic’ Conceptualisations of the Innate; a Semiotic communities have much to teach us about the Critique of the Ecological Perspective”, proper non-exploitative relationship we should especially when they look up semiotic in a have with our environment. Feachem reviews dictionary and find it defined only as “A his work on enviro’nmental health among the branch of Pathology concerned with Raiapu Enga and concludes that piecemeal symptoms”! It is essential that those who write engineering methods are not likely to improve for an audience outside their own immediate health. What is needed is an effort to change discipline write simply and define words that the basic attitudes of the people to hygiene and are not in common use; otherwise the chances then a programme planned, in association with that such a volume will be used by policy them, to give easy access to a plentiful water makers and environmental planners is a forlorn supply and to improve excreta disposal and hope indeed. VOLUME 11, NUMBER 1,1978 41 COMMUNITY HEALTH STUDIES housing at the same time. disjointed book. Disjointedness is a characteristic of a number of books prepared G.B. Wyatt, by the International Epidemiological Department of Community Medicine, Association (IEA). At least two possible reasons The University of Papua and New Guinea. for this can be advanced: 1. The IEA tries to achieve geographical “democracy” in authorship - a laudable objective for an international association. W.W. Holland & S. Gilderdale: Epidemiology 2. The panel of authors often bears a and hlrh (International Epidemiological similarity to the IEA Council, consequently the same names (and often Association / Henry Kimpton, London, 1977) the same ideas) appear repeatedly under different book titles. This approach is undoubtedly dictated by the financial We would expect from the title of this savings possible by combining meetings of book that it would describe the epidemiological Council with meetings of the contributors elucidation of the causes of ill health and its to a book. translation to health promotion. Indeed, in the A result of these quite understandable introduction, Kenneth Newel1 develops this policies is that the authors are not necessarily theme but then tells us we’re wrong. - It’s not expert in the subject under consideration and about health but health services! We then may not wish or be able to devote the time conclude that the book will develop the view necessary to preparation of a chapter which that epidemiology is the basic science behind contributes directly and uniquely to the theme health services research. Wrong again! After a of the book. Thus Epidemiology and Health is poor description of epidemiological methods “good in parts”. It should not be read as a book and a good outline of their application to but there are some thought-provoking chapters health service problems by Walter Holland we for those who are concerned about the rational come to a chapter by Basil Hetzel and Tom development of policies for health and health Selwood on health. Well, it’s about health after services. all. But wait, don’t jump to conclusions because there are three chapters to come on health Bruce Armstrong, services in Eastern Europe (by Jan Public Health Department, Kostrewski), India (by Rameshwar Sharma) Perth, Western Australia. and Iran (by M.A. Faghih and F. Amini) with a chapter on “Cost and Quality” by Andrew Creese sitting in the middle. The chapter by Creese is in fact excellent E.A. Cleland, R.J. Stimson and A.J. and touches on epidemiology, economics, Goldsworthy: Suburbon Health Cbre Behaviour health services and health. An economist costs in Adehide (Centre for Applied Social & the inputs, an epidemiologist measures the Survey Research. Monograph Series No. 2, outputs, alternative policies are ranked Flinders University, Adelaide, 1977) according to their costlbenefit ratios and a health planner/administrator behaves rationally as a result. Beautiful, but it’s too good to be true. After a rather lengthy introduction, Mowbray in The Management Process warns - encompassing discussion of the fragmented “. . . many research studies do not have the health service system, the aims and objectives impact on health care that might be expected of the Community Health Program in Australia, given the implications and relevance of their evaluation models and strategies and some results.” To a greater or lesser degree this theories about the structure of health services problem and its generation by those who insist and their spatial distribution, the authors that “comprehensive rationality is preferable to finally get down to the “nitty gritty” of the ‘muddling through’ as a strategy of decision” is study undertaken. the subject of the preceding and subsequent In the first sections of the book the chapters by John Wyn Owen and Donald authors go to great lengths to discuss the Anderson. Surprisingly, at the end of all this, difficulties involved in establishing definitions Lester Breslow gathers the scattered themes of “demand”, “need” and “health” and criteria into a lucid summary of the contributions and for measuring “health”, as well as the problems role of epidemiology in the planning of health associated with the development of a services. methodology for evaluating the impact of new If the preceding paragraphs have appeared types of health services in the real world. It is disjointed it’s because they’re about a unfortunate that, after considerable effort in COMMUNITY HEALTH STUDIES VOLUME 11, NUMBER 1,1978 http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health Wiley

T.P. Bayliss Smith and R.G. Feachem (eds): Subsistence and Survival (Academic Press London 1977)

Loading next page...
 
/lp/wiley/t-p-bayliss-smith-and-r-g-feachem-eds-subsistence-and-survival-enpZafA2ES

References (0)

References for this paper are not available at this time. We will be adding them shortly, thank you for your patience.

Publisher
Wiley
Copyright
"Copyright © 1978 Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company"
ISSN
1326-0200
eISSN
1753-6405
DOI
10.1111/j.1753-6405.1978.tb00666.x
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

There are several chapters of cbnsiderable ideas to health workers and politicians the interest, including Hornabrook’s critical review world over. Thus even though the of the International Biological Programmes circumstances are alien to us, we in Australia do recognise the principles. The politicians may studies on human adaptability in New Guinea. not talk about removing control of health care He summarises the mass of information gained on Karkar Island and at Lufa but expresses from professionals, but they do think about it, just as administrators think of sending the disappointment at the latk of clearly defined aims and questions the usefulness of such large doctors to the outback and integrating all forms of health care. And what up-to-date health multi-disciplinary studies. He also briefly worker disagrees with the “put prevention describes endemic cretinism and kuru as first” policy or does not dream of “mobilising examples of diseases arising from the breakdown of a delicately established ecological the masses to participate in their own health balance and emphasises the value of an care”? ecological perspective when studying disease. Peter Wilenski has produced a very Other chapters are concerned with readable and stimulating book. The section on nutrition and energy flows. Sinnet describes his the battle against schistosomiasis, for example, studies of nutritional adaptation among the is a fascinating account of applied Murapim of Enga. He concludes that although comprehensive epidemiology. The beginner will the Murapim are physically fit and well adapted find it to be an excellent introduction to health to their marginal protein intake of 25g a day, services in China and for the more serious nutritional factors probably do contribute to there is an abundance of references. A student possible omission is mental health, but that the moderately high infant mortality and crude death rates observed. Any improvement in may need a whole new monograph. nutrition must depend upon crop N. Shiraev, diversification, improved food storage, improved communications and economic Division of Health Services Research, expansion. The problems of surveys of food Health Commirsion of New South Wales. intake, especially when they are not accompanied by clinical study of the nutrition of the population, are well illustrated in some of the other chapters. Margaret McArthur is severely critical of some of Rappaport’s T.P. Bayliss Smith and R.G. Feachem (eds): conclusions from his studies of the Tsembaga. Subsistence and Survival (Academic Press She shows that his suggestions that the Kaiko London 1977) pig killing festival and the eating of salt before fighting have nutritional value are unlikely to be true. Morren looks at energy‘production and This book is both fascinating and use in three highland groups who vary from infuriating. The authors are drawn from predominantly hunter-gatherers to people who disparate disciplines and many of the chapters depend primarily on growing sweet potato and are based on doctoral studies undertaken in herding pigs. In the predominantly agricultural Papua New Guinea. While the range of groups about forty per cent of effort is spent disciplines, from anthropology through on herding and providing food for pigs. It may geography to public health engineering and be no coincidence that the hunter-gatherers medicine, is necessary for the wide study of were the best nourished group. Bayliss-Smith ecology it introduces a measure of mutual shows that cultural evolution towards a modern incomprehensibility which is not entirely society usually involves a less efficient use of Few people will gain overcome in this book. energy. much from a chapter by Roy Wagner entitled Clarke in a chapter titled ‘the structures of “Scientific and Indigenous Papuan permanence’ argues that ‘palaeotechnic’ Conceptualisations of the Innate; a Semiotic communities have much to teach us about the Critique of the Ecological Perspective”, proper non-exploitative relationship we should especially when they look up semiotic in a have with our environment. Feachem reviews dictionary and find it defined only as “A his work on enviro’nmental health among the branch of Pathology concerned with Raiapu Enga and concludes that piecemeal symptoms”! It is essential that those who write engineering methods are not likely to improve for an audience outside their own immediate health. What is needed is an effort to change discipline write simply and define words that the basic attitudes of the people to hygiene and are not in common use; otherwise the chances then a programme planned, in association with that such a volume will be used by policy them, to give easy access to a plentiful water makers and environmental planners is a forlorn supply and to improve excreta disposal and hope indeed. VOLUME 11, NUMBER 1,1978 41 COMMUNITY HEALTH STUDIES housing at the same time. disjointed book. Disjointedness is a characteristic of a number of books prepared G.B. Wyatt, by the International Epidemiological Department of Community Medicine, Association (IEA). At least two possible reasons The University of Papua and New Guinea. for this can be advanced: 1. The IEA tries to achieve geographical “democracy” in authorship - a laudable objective for an international association. W.W. Holland & S. Gilderdale: Epidemiology 2. The panel of authors often bears a and hlrh (International Epidemiological similarity to the IEA Council, consequently the same names (and often Association / Henry Kimpton, London, 1977) the same ideas) appear repeatedly under different book titles. This approach is undoubtedly dictated by the financial We would expect from the title of this savings possible by combining meetings of book that it would describe the epidemiological Council with meetings of the contributors elucidation of the causes of ill health and its to a book. translation to health promotion. Indeed, in the A result of these quite understandable introduction, Kenneth Newel1 develops this policies is that the authors are not necessarily theme but then tells us we’re wrong. - It’s not expert in the subject under consideration and about health but health services! We then may not wish or be able to devote the time conclude that the book will develop the view necessary to preparation of a chapter which that epidemiology is the basic science behind contributes directly and uniquely to the theme health services research. Wrong again! After a of the book. Thus Epidemiology and Health is poor description of epidemiological methods “good in parts”. It should not be read as a book and a good outline of their application to but there are some thought-provoking chapters health service problems by Walter Holland we for those who are concerned about the rational come to a chapter by Basil Hetzel and Tom development of policies for health and health Selwood on health. Well, it’s about health after services. all. But wait, don’t jump to conclusions because there are three chapters to come on health Bruce Armstrong, services in Eastern Europe (by Jan Public Health Department, Kostrewski), India (by Rameshwar Sharma) Perth, Western Australia. and Iran (by M.A. Faghih and F. Amini) with a chapter on “Cost and Quality” by Andrew Creese sitting in the middle. The chapter by Creese is in fact excellent E.A. Cleland, R.J. Stimson and A.J. and touches on epidemiology, economics, Goldsworthy: Suburbon Health Cbre Behaviour health services and health. An economist costs in Adehide (Centre for Applied Social & the inputs, an epidemiologist measures the Survey Research. Monograph Series No. 2, outputs, alternative policies are ranked Flinders University, Adelaide, 1977) according to their costlbenefit ratios and a health planner/administrator behaves rationally as a result. Beautiful, but it’s too good to be true. After a rather lengthy introduction, Mowbray in The Management Process warns - encompassing discussion of the fragmented “. . . many research studies do not have the health service system, the aims and objectives impact on health care that might be expected of the Community Health Program in Australia, given the implications and relevance of their evaluation models and strategies and some results.” To a greater or lesser degree this theories about the structure of health services problem and its generation by those who insist and their spatial distribution, the authors that “comprehensive rationality is preferable to finally get down to the “nitty gritty” of the ‘muddling through’ as a strategy of decision” is study undertaken. the subject of the preceding and subsequent In the first sections of the book the chapters by John Wyn Owen and Donald authors go to great lengths to discuss the Anderson. Surprisingly, at the end of all this, difficulties involved in establishing definitions Lester Breslow gathers the scattered themes of “demand”, “need” and “health” and criteria into a lucid summary of the contributions and for measuring “health”, as well as the problems role of epidemiology in the planning of health associated with the development of a services. methodology for evaluating the impact of new If the preceding paragraphs have appeared types of health services in the real world. It is disjointed it’s because they’re about a unfortunate that, after considerable effort in COMMUNITY HEALTH STUDIES VOLUME 11, NUMBER 1,1978

Journal

Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public HealthWiley

Published: Oct 1, 1978

There are no references for this article.