5-12
3. Organizing the study of common illnesses according to ‘body systems’ may
make sense sometimes—but not always. For example, it may make sense to
study different breathing (respiratory) problems as a group. Many of them have
similar symptoms (cough) and they are sometimes confused. However, it is
usually more practical to organize the study of diseases according to . . .
• how common or serious they are in the community,
• who they affect most (women, children, old people, the poor), or
• how (or if) they spread from person to person.
Under this last plan, whooping cough might be studied with ‘contagious
diseases of childhood’. (This does not, of course, prevent it being reviewed with
other respiratory problems, for comparison and diagnosis.)
Unfortunately, some instructors are so rigid about teaching according to body
systems that they lose sight of what comes first in a community. Thus they
cover ‘esophageal ulcers’ before diarrhea, simply because the esophagus comes
before the intestines in the digestive system. In terms of importance in most
communities, diarrhea comes first—and should be studied first! As a general
rule, it is more appropriate to . . .
Organize the study of different diseases according to
their place in the community, not their place in the body.
4. To start with anatomy is to first look at human beings in pieces, rather than
as whole persons in a living community. Health problems begin in the
community as much as in the body. This is one of the most important lessons
health workers (and their instructors) need to learn. From this point of view, to
start with anatomy is the kiss of death.
It is more true to
life to begin studying
health problems as
they are experienced
within communities
and individuals.
Look at the social
and physical causes,
symptoms, and
effects on people’s
health and lives.
In this way, the
humanness of
people can be kept
alive. It is easily lost
when the body is first
looked at in pieces.
TWO WAYS OF LOOKING AT ‘HEART’. Which
is more important to community health?
Start with
community,
not anatomy!