title: Social and cultural efficacies of medicines: complications for antiretroviral therapy.
abstract: Using ethnographic examples of medicine use, prescription, distribution and production, the authors argue that social and cultural effects of pharmaceuticals should be taken into account. Non-medical effects deeply influence the medical outcome of medicine use. Complications around the advent of anti-AIDS medicines in poor countries are taken as a point in case. The authors are medical anthropologists specialised in the social and cultural analysis of pharmaceuticals.
authors.affiliation: Medical Anthropology, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands. s.vandergeest@uva.nl
authors.forename: Sjaak
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: van der Geest
authors.forename: Anita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hardon
mesh_terms: D000884:Anthropology, Cultural; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics; D035841:Behavioral Research; D014943:Global Health; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015438:Health Behavior; D006285:Health Planning; D006801:Humans; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*; D011050:Policy Making; D040241:Social Marketing
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents