Costa Davide, Serra Raffaele
Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Magna Graecia University of Catanzaro, 88100, Catanzaro, Italy.
Interuniversity Center of Phlebolymphology (CIFL), "Magna Graecia" University, 88100, Catanzaro, Italy.
Sci Rep. 2025 Aug 12;15(1):29611. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-15771-6.
Chronic Venous Disease (CVD) is a highly prevalent condition often explored through a biomedical lens, emphasizing pathophysiology and clinical management. However, less attention has been paid to the sociocultural dimensions that shape its perception, experience, and treatment. This ethnographic study investigates how social, cultural, and structural factors influence CVD outcomes in Calabria, a historically underserved region in Southern Italy. Through participant observation and in-depth interviews with patients, caregivers, and community health workers, this paper reveals patterns of delayed diagnosis, stigma, and therapeutic non-compliance tied to cultural beliefs, gender dynamics, and systemic healthcare gaps. Findings suggest the need for culturally embedded interventions and health policies that recognize the lived realities of CVD patients. This study contributes to the emerging intersection of anthropology and preventive medicine, reinforcing the importance of viewing chronic diseases within their broader sociocultural contexts.
慢性静脉疾病（CVD）是一种非常普遍的病症，人们常常从生物医学角度对其进行研究，重点关注病理生理学和临床管理。然而，对于塑造其认知、体验和治疗的社会文化层面，人们关注较少。这项人种志研究调查了社会、文化和结构因素如何影响意大利南部历史上医疗服务不足的地区卡拉布里亚的慢性静脉疾病治疗结果。通过参与观察以及对患者、护理人员和社区卫生工作者的深入访谈，本文揭示了与文化信仰、性别动态和系统性医疗差距相关的诊断延误、耻辱感和治疗不依从模式。研究结果表明，需要采取融入文化的干预措施和卫生政策，以认识到慢性静脉疾病患者的实际生活状况。这项研究为人类学与预防医学这一新兴交叉领域做出了贡献，强化了在更广泛的社会文化背景下看待慢性病的重要性。
