Author: Benoît, Catherine

Source: Anthropology in Action, Volume 14, Number 3, Winter 2007 , pp. 59-68(10)

Publisher: Berghahn Journals

Abstract:

During the past few years, the AIDS campaign in Haiti has been targeting Vodou officiants and organizations. These awareness and training programmes inform officiants about the transmission and prevention of AIDS, tests for HIV and antiretroviral drugs, or even try to encourage them to become involved in a medical referral system. These culturalist interventions are grounded in an essentialist concept of culture that can have harmful effects on the targeted groups. The concept of culture underlying such interventions is deconstructed along with the categories of traditional medicine and the 'tradipractitioner'. An approach to public health is advocated that would contextualize medical pluralism in Haiti.

Keywords: CULTURE; TRADITIONAL MEDICINE; PUBLIC HEALTH; AIDS; VODOU; HAITI

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3167/aia.2007.140307

Publication date: 2007-12-01

More about this publication?

• Anthropology in Action is a peer-reviewed journal publishing key articles, commentaries, research reports, and book reviews that deal with the use of anthropology in all areas of policy and practice. Recent themes have included identity and movement, anthropology in Denmark, the effects of ethics, and anthropology and activism. Subjects covered by the journal include organizations, HIV/AIDS research, new reproductive technologies, the rights of indigenous peoples, community care and social policy, health, medicine and suffering, education and government policy, museums, place and space, management, ethnicity and violence, and overseas development.
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