Women's Health

Concepts of Health

Read the excerpt 'Women and Health' by Jenny Hockey, 'The conditions of women's health' pp.282 - 285, and then discuss the following questions in small groups.

Q1. Discuss advantages and disadvantages of the following models. Are they particularly helpful/unhelpful in discussing matters specific to women's health?

Medical/Western Scientific model
Advantages	Disadvantages

World Health Organisation definition
Advantages	Disadvantages

Health-illness continuum
Advantages	Disadvantages

Dimensions of health
Advantages	Disadvantages

Q2 How might the different models explain:

a) Increasing rates of chlamydia

b) Post natal depression

c) Asthma

Q3 What particular feminist critiques are raised in the excerpt? Do any of the models outlined offer an explanation that includes these factors?