Preface ix
Foreword Peter
L. Berger xv
Acknowledgments xix
Introduction 1
Chapter 1
The Impact of Mediating Structures
on Health and Illness 5
Epidemiological Research 8
Sociological Research 19
The Limits of Modern Medicine 29
Healing and Understanding Illness 35
Medicine, Mediating Structures, and Healing 42
Chapter 2
Families and Self-Care 55
The Family and Health Care in History 55
The Individual and the Family in Health Care 65
A Closer Look: Home Childbirth 83
Conclusion 103
Chapter 3
Religious Groups and Healing 113
The Healing Qualities of Religion 115
Healing and Christianity 122
A Closer Look: Healing in the Catholic
Charismatic Renewal 137
Chapter 4
Community Groups and Mutual Aid 159
Kinship and Friendship Networks 165
The Lay Volunteer in Community Health 184
A Closer Look: Rape Crisis Centers 201
In Retrospect 219
Chapter 5
Mediating Structures and Health Policy 231
Aspects of Mediating Structures of Special
Relevance
to
Health Policy 232
The Vulnerability of Mediating Structures in
Health 239
Implications for Health Policy 242
Index 267
About
the Authors 273-274