Health promotion as a global socio-political process : first steps

The article provides an historical analysis of the concept of health. On these basis, it is possible to deconstruct institutional conceptions of health and shows the salience of prevention and health promotions in these narratives. On these basis, it is proposed to connect sociological theories of health inequalities with institutional definitions of health. Sociology of health can provide several insights for the analysis of health promotion activities in connection to health inequalities. Specifically, inequalities can be analysed taking into account life course perspectives; socio-economic status; risk factors model. structural violence. Less conventionally, another framework that could be integrated with the sociological studies on health inequalities and illness is the one proposed by Arthur Kleinman. On these basis, empirical research should be carried out in order to test the reliability of the two models. [Publisher's text].