Learning the value of Africa’s collectivism for an individualistic Europe

Excerpt

The interaction between social factors and human health is a relevant research issue for the design of new strategies aimed at preserving or maintaining an adequate level of good health and wellbeing at the population level. The significant role played by the socio-economic state is now well recognized and the European Community (EU) has included the reduction of social inequalities among its priorities. A greater possibility of getting ill and living less among the more disadvantaged is now well documented also in Countries offering universal healthcare, as recently shown in the analysis conducted in Italy by ISTAT (Istituto Nazionale di Statistica), and INMP (Istituto Nazionale per la promozione della salute delle popolazioni Migranti ed il contrasto delle malattie della Povertà) [1]. This problem can, however, become more complex when dealing with ethnic minorities. In this context, the development of an extended family network, linked to the original cultural background of some world areas, could have important implications for prevention strategies and should probably be considered. …