Complementary Coexistence. A Constructivist Grounded Theory Study Exploring the Conceptualization of Health in The Philosophy of Buen Vivir / Sumak Kawsay

Abstract: Background: The Andean indigenous philosophy known as Buen Vivir or Sumak Kawsay, loosely translated into Good Living or Well Living, is rarely studied within the field of public health. The studied philosophy has been institutionalized in Bolivian and Ecuadorian constitutions, why it sets the agenda for health in the Andean region. The ongoing progression of the health definition, combined with global public health trends of multicultural alliances and international policies, create incentives to shed light on the studied philosophy. It is also of great interest to explore how the studied philosophy might contribute to the international field of public health. Aim: The purpose of this study was to explore the conceptualization of health within the given Andean indigenous philosophy. The ambition was also to create an understanding for how the conceptualization could contribute to the international field of public health. Methods: Data was collected from a fluent set of twenty-five written documents, that discuss and/or explore the studied philosophy. The data was analyzed using Charmaz’ (2006) constructivist grounded theory approach. Findings: Based on the gained understanding of the studied philosophy’s conceptualization of health, this study presents a conceptual model of health. The model consists of the three categories of Nurturing life, Being part of totality, and Setting one’s own agenda, where each category is defined by various properties. Conclusion: The philosophy’s conceptualization of health defines health as multidimensional and collectively constructed, where self-determination is key. Furthermore, the study found that a definition of health should account for health’s constant need of cultivation of all dimensions, also including nature. International public health-work should therefore operate on a community level, ensuring setting sensitivity, with an extended rights-based approach. In addition, the study found that preventative public health-work should aim for complementary coexistence, emphasizing an intercultural and intergenerational perspective.