Description
Book SynopsisWinner of the 2021 Choice Outstanding Academic Title Award In A History of Population Health Johan P. Mackenbach offers a broad-sweeping study of the spectacular changes in people’s health in Europe since the early 18th century. Most of the 40 specific diseases covered in this book show a fascinating pattern of ‘rise-and-fall’, with large differences in timing between countries. Using a unique collection of historical data and bringing together insights from demography, economics, sociology, political science, medicine, epidemiology and general history, it shows that these changes and variations did not occur spontaneously, but were mostly man-made. Throughout European history, changes in health and longevity were therefore closely related to economic, social, and political conditions, with public health and medical care both making important contributions to population health improvement. Readers who would like to have a closer look at the quantitative data used in the trend graphs included in the book can find these it here.
Trade Review"[...] strengths of this excellent book include its meticulous and extensive documentation, transparent discussion of what data is and is not available, analysis of prevailing theoretical explanations, use of supplementary tables, and Mackenbach's clear and compelling writing. [...] Summing Up: Highly recommended. Upper-division undergraduates. Graduate students, faculty, and professionals. General readers." - M. D. Lagerwey, Western Michigan University, in: Choice, February 2021 Vol. 58 No. 6 "Mackenbach’s longue durée, Braudel-inspired, and erudite book wades into scholarly territory that will be familiar to readers of Journal of British Studies. […] Mackenbach’s book will provide an important starting point for future research on the role of politics and public health in curbing COVID-19." - Jacob Steere-Williams, College of Charleston, South Carolina, in: Journal of British Studies, Vol. 60 (3), 2021, 746-748 pp.
Table of ContentsPreface List of illustrations Chapter 1. Introduction Utopia come true? Rising life expectancy The rise and fall of disease The epidemiologic transition theory The McKeown debate and the Preston-curve The role of human agency &;How to read this book Concepts, sources, data and methods PART I. LONG-TERM TRENDS: A BIRD’S EYE VIEW Chapter 2. Long-term trends in population health Changes in over-all population health Declining mortality Young and old, men and women Regional and social inequalities Rising height More years in good health, more years in bad health? Changes in disease patterns Shifting causes of death Shifts in the burden of disease Diseases rise, diseases fall Epidemiologic transition 2.0 A theory in need of repair How: characterizing change When: staging change Where: locating change Chapter 3. Understanding trends in population health Theories of population health An ‘ecological-evolutionary theory’ of the origins of disease Explaining long-term change Economic, political and sociocultural conditions Economic history: improvements in living standards Political history: the rise of the modern state Sociocultural history: the lights go on Public health and medical care A short history of public health The impact of public health A short history of medical care The Role of Medicine PART II. ZOOMING IN: THE RISE AND FALL OF DISEASES Chapter 4. Health problems of pre-industrial societies Violence and hunger War Homicide Famine Great epidemics Plague Smallpox Typhus Malaria Chapter 5. Health problems of industrializing societies Communicable diseases Cholera, dysentery, typhoid Tuberculosis Syphilis Scarlet fever, measles, whooping cough, diphtheria Pneumonia, influenza Maternal, infant and perinatal mortality Maternal mortality Infant mortality Still-births Other health problems of industrializing societies Pellagra, rickets, goitre Peptic ulcer, appendicitis Lung diseases caused by occupational and environmental exposures Chapter 6. Health problems of affluent societies Chronic diseases Ischaemic heart disease Cerebrovascular disease Diabetes mellitus Stomach, colorectal, breast, prostate cancer Lung cancer Liver cirrhosis Dementia Depression Injuries Road traffic injuries Suicide A new plague AIDS PART III: SYNTHESIS AND OUTLOOK Chapter 7. Why? Why did European population health improve? The rise and fall of disease The role of human agency The role of public health and medical care The Rise of the West: was there a ‘prime mover’? Why did some countries rush ahead or lag behind? Northern lights: the Swedish advantage Dutch comfort: we were the champions Southern miracles: from rear-guard to forefront Balkan troubles: the weight of the past Russian roulette: the value of life Chapter 8. Outlook Feathers of Icarus Geopolitical instability Increasing inequality Global environmental change The way ahead The public health paradigm An expanding circle of concern Re-thinking Utopia By way of conclusion Through the telescope of history The European experience The role of politics The future Appendices Bibliography Index
