Migrants' Health Seeking Actions In Guangzhou, China: Individual Action, Structure And Agency: Linkages And Change (megacities And Global Change / Megastadte Und Globaler Wandel)

Existing Research On Health Seeking Is Characterized By An Abundance Of Empirical Studies And A Lack Of Theoretical Grounding. This Book Provides A New Approach, A Social Theory That Conceptualizes The Various Interlinkages And Interdependencies Of Structure (e.g. Regulation In Health Care And Occupational Systems, Cultural Norms And Health Beliefs), Different Types Of Agents (e.g. Administration, Health Practitioners, Ngos, Social Organizations And Networks) And Individual Action. It Makes A Substantial Contribution To The Social Theory Debate And Expands Existing Approaches To Health Seeking With The Concept Of Health Seeking Action. By Providing A Theoretical Explanation Of Change It Illustrates The Impact Of Current Dynamics In China. The Approach Is Applied To Rural-to-urban Migrants In Guangzhou, China. Migrants Are A New And Constantly Growing Segment Of The Population That Has Emerged In Chinese Cities Since The Beginning Of The Reform Era. Their Lack Of Access To Health Care Has Resulted In Various Different Alternative Health Seeking Actions. A Considerable Number Of Factors That Influence Health Seeking Are Identified That Have Not Been Considered In Existing Works. Tabea Bork-hüffer. Includes Bibliographical References. CONTENTS LIST OF FIGURES LIST OF TABLES LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS SUMMARY ZUSAMMENFASSUNG 1 INTRODUCTION: HEALTH SEEKING ACTIONS –THE FOCUS AND ITS RELEVANCE 2 THEORETICAL APPROACH: INDIVIDUAL ACTION,STRUCTURE, AND AGENCY – LINKAGES AND CHANGE 3 STATE-OF-THE-ART: HEALTH SEEKING BEHAVIOR,DEVELOPMENT OF THE CHINESE HEALTH SYSTEM,URBANIZATION AND MIGRATION IN CHINA,AND THEIR EFFECTS FOR HEALTH 4 PHILOSOPHICAL PERSPECTIVE,METHODOLOGY AND METHODS 5 EMPIRICAL ANALYSIS: FINDINGS ON THE VARIETY OF HEALTH SEEKING ACTIONS AND THE PERCEIVED AND GENERAL CONDITIONS OF ACTIONS 6 DISCUSSION AND SYNTHESIS: UNDERSTANDING THE LINKS BETWEEN MIGRANTS’ HEALTH SEEKING ACTIONS, STRUCTURE, AND AGENCY AS WELL AS THE IMPACT OF MORPHOGENESIS 7 FINAL CONCLUSIONS: INSIGHTS INTO HEALTH SEEKING ACTIONS REFERENCES APPENDIX