ANTROPOLOGIA MÉDICA E PRÁTICAS DE SAÚDE EM XONIN/GOVERNADOR VALADARES (DÉCADA DE 1950): UMA ABORDAGEM INTERDISCIPLINAR DA ATUAÇÃO DO SESP

This article presents the outcomes of studies on some health practices in the district of Xonin (Governador Valadares - Brazil), having in mind an anthropological report commissioned by the Special Public Health Service (SESP) in 1951. The interdisciplinary theoretical tools of the Critical Biocultural Approach (CBA) and Medical Anthropology were the instruments for the dialogue with Territorial Studies, grounded on the concept of body-territory, having as purpose to understand the physicians-patient interaction. The report revealed, on the part of the “SESP” physicians, a certain lack of understanding of the corporeality centered on the body-territory experienced in Xonin in relation to medical practices. From this perspective, the commissioned report views the care provided by SESP to be a failure, due to the behavior of the patients. Having CBA as approach allowed to get a deep insight into the relevance of an interdisciplinary perspective and understand it in a more comprehensive way, having as start point the concept of body-territory, elements related to the permanence, changes, successes and failures of some health practices.