Marseille 2007
Marseille 2007
Abstract book
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Abstract #593  -  Alternative and traditional treatments for AIDS in the time of ART in resource-poor settings (Satellite meeting)
Session:
  3.1: NAARPS (Satellite 3) on Sunday @ 09.30-15.30 in Aix-en-Provence Chaired by Alice Desclaux
Authors:
  Presenting Author:   Prof Alice Desclaux - Universite Paul Cezanne Aix-Marseille, France
 
  Additional Authors:  Prof Anita Hardon,  
Aim:
In developing countries, biomedical treatments for AIDS have been introduced in settings where traditional medicine is popular. Though in the past five years modern AIDS medicines have become widely accessible through ART programs, anthropological fieldwork suggests that many people go on turning to alternative and traditional medicines. Amongst other reasons, are the non specific character of AIDS symptoms at early stages, the lack of availability and accessibility of testing and biomedical treatments in some locations, and the stigma related to AIDS clinics. Moreover, when AIDS programs managed to increase access to efficient ARV treatment with the support of international agencies, Global Fund and 3x5 initiatives, alternative treatments did not disappear. In fact there is evidence that neo-traditional medicines are being introduced to meet the demand for medicines in times of AIDS. They are presented as alternative for or complementary treatment to ART. Recent enquiries show that these treatments are used by patients that sometimes get tired of ART or have difficulties in taking this treatment, by other patients who know their serostatus but have not yet reached the stage of ART, or by patients that take alternative treatment to gives them strength to put up with ART.
 
Method / Issue:
Enquiries about these treatments show that they belong to several categories and must be considered within the context of health seeking behaviours in pluralistic health systems. Some HIV+ patients attend local traditional healers in a way that is not specific of AIDS; some are proposed alternative treatments by PLWA support groups; some happen to know these treatments through international AIDS conferences. Various kinds of healing techniques and products may be used; many of them may build their legitimacy on a combination of traditional and scientific references. Some healers and treatments are limited to local use, when others products are industrially produced and sold at international level. Some products are distributed through usual formal or informal systems, when others are distributed through specific social patterns such as multi-level marketing systems or PLWA networks. Some products may be considered as used as self-medication, when others cannot be considered independently from the participation of users to specific groups and organizations more or less profit-focused. Much remains for socio-anthropological studies, about related concepts and practices, professional activities and patients uses, roles of institutions and the building of legitimacy for these treatments and their providers/healers.
 
Results / Comments:
Though important in terms of expenditure and persons involved, these uses have been seldom studied. Two groups of social scientists, from Amsterdam and Aix-en-Provence Universities, have developed studies on this topic. This satellite meeting, funded by ANRS, will allow these groups to exchange information on this subject in English and French-speaking countries in Africa and Asia, and to discuss these issues.
 
Discussion:
Date: July 1st, 9:30am to 3:00pm Location: Maison Mditerranenne des Sciences de lHomme (MMSH), 5 rue du Chteau de lHorloge, Aix-en-Provence, Salle Duby (Room already booked by ourselves). 30 mn by bus from Marseille. Organisers: Satellite meeting organised by NAARPS (Network on the Anthropology of ART in Resource-Poor Settings) : CReCSS (Centre de Recherche Cultures, Sant, Socits) + ASSSR (Amsterdam School of Social Science Research, Medical Anthropology Unit) + UMR 145 (IRD) Funded by : ANRS (Agence Nationale de Recherche sur le Sida et les hpatites), UPCAM (Universit Paul Czanne dAix-Marseille). 12-15 pre-selected participants. Open to audience.
 
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