Reflections on applied anthropology. Experiences from a research on Anthropology of Health

Abstract

After nearly a century of debate over the unavoidable risks of Applied Anthropology, the social use of Anthropology appears as one of the most fruitful fields within the discipline. This paper stresses the priority of social responsibility in any possible action, the scientific quality and rigour as crucial
condition and as part of the social responsibility, and its added value as a test for research outcomes. Hence, we propose a particular applied research in Anthropology of Health carried out by the GRAFO (a UAB research group) and its current continuation, as a possible model. We’ll tackle with
methodological issues and with some of the resulting productions. Furthermore, we’ll singularly emphasize the potential of such research and its results to enhance the medical attention to ethnic minorities and population in (or in risk of felling into) social marginalization. More specifically, we
will present a multimedia resource: “Asistencia Sanitaria en Contextos Interculturales. Materiales Formativos para Profesionales Sanitarios” (Medical attention in Intercultural contexts. Training resources for health professionals), that has been designed to train health personnel in issues related to cultural diversity, social inequality and immigration. This package has been used in formative sessions and its continual evaluation has resulted in the improvement and adaptation of its constituent materials.