Keywords
social epidemiology
sociocultural factors
ecologic studies
multilevel analysis
How to Cite
Abstract
A defining characteristic of sociocultural epidemiology is the integration of social, cultural, economic, and political processes together with biologic processes in the study of the determinants of health. This implies the need to consider factors defined at multiple levels of organization, ranging from genes to society as a whole. This article discusses methodologic problems that arise in epidemiology (as well as in the social sciences generally) as a result of the presence of multiple levels of organization. The need to jointly investigate (or integrate) factors defined at multiple levels is emphasized. The article concludes with a discussion of the implications of the presence of multiple levels for the study of the social and cultural determinants of health.
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