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Essay Bio-Socio Connections
Tina Boersma (I6052404)
Maastricht University
Master Global Health
Course: MGH4003
Date: 02-12-2016
Word count: 1216
, Lung cancer in India
Introduction
Since the 21st century, lung cancer prevalence’s have increased dramatically (Torre, Siegel, &
Jemal, 2016). Especially developing countries such as India are enormously affected by
alarming rates of the disease, reaching epidemic proportions. Approximately 1.8 million new
cases of lung cancer occurred in 2015, constituting 9.3 percent of all cancer related deaths
among both sexes in India (Malik & Raina, 2015). However, lung cancer is mostly prominent
among smoking Indian men, with to an estimated percentage of 78 (Torre et al., 2016).
Biophysical and social factors play an essential role in the onset and outcome of lung cancer
in India. According to Ambrosino (2016), the broader term ‘biophysical environment’ can be
distinguished in biological, chemical and physical factors, which in turn can be internal (e.g.
genetics and hormones) and external (e.g. environmental influences) (cf. figure 1). In contrast,
social determinants of health refer to elements of life circumstances, including all conditions
in which people are born, grow, live, work or age (Rubin, 2016). Investigating in the in the
relationship of biophysical and social factors is crucial, since both factors are closely
interconnected and determine the manifestation of lung cancer in India as is illustrated by
means of two bio-socio examples.
Figure 1. Multifactoriality of health and diseases (Ambrosino, 2016)
2
Essay Bio-Socio Connections
Tina Boersma (I6052404)
Maastricht University
Master Global Health
Course: MGH4003
Date: 02-12-2016
Word count: 1216
, Lung cancer in India
Introduction
Since the 21st century, lung cancer prevalence’s have increased dramatically (Torre, Siegel, &
Jemal, 2016). Especially developing countries such as India are enormously affected by
alarming rates of the disease, reaching epidemic proportions. Approximately 1.8 million new
cases of lung cancer occurred in 2015, constituting 9.3 percent of all cancer related deaths
among both sexes in India (Malik & Raina, 2015). However, lung cancer is mostly prominent
among smoking Indian men, with to an estimated percentage of 78 (Torre et al., 2016).
Biophysical and social factors play an essential role in the onset and outcome of lung cancer
in India. According to Ambrosino (2016), the broader term ‘biophysical environment’ can be
distinguished in biological, chemical and physical factors, which in turn can be internal (e.g.
genetics and hormones) and external (e.g. environmental influences) (cf. figure 1). In contrast,
social determinants of health refer to elements of life circumstances, including all conditions
in which people are born, grow, live, work or age (Rubin, 2016). Investigating in the in the
relationship of biophysical and social factors is crucial, since both factors are closely
interconnected and determine the manifestation of lung cancer in India as is illustrated by
means of two bio-socio examples.
Figure 1. Multifactoriality of health and diseases (Ambrosino, 2016)
2
