Editorial

Syndemics, Habitus, and the Moral Worlds of Diseases in South Asia

Abstract

In this editorial, we argue that recurrent infectious disease outbreaks in South Asia—such as measles, dengue, and Nipah virus must be understood through the dual lens of syndemics and habitus. Syndemics reveals how diseases biosocially interact within contexts of structural inequity, while habitus explains the cultural normalisation of illness as fate or divine will. These frameworks show that disease patterns are shaped by interconnected biological, social, and moral factors. The authors advocate for public health strategies that address both the structural conditions enabling disease clustering and the sociocultural interpretations that sustain their acceptance, moving beyond purely biomedical approaches.

DOI: http://doi.org/10.31357/fhss/vjhss.v11i02.01