Consensus theory model of AIDS/SIDA beliefs in four Latino populations

To describe Latino beliefs about AIDS (SIDA), Latino adults were sampled at two U.S. sites (Connecticut and Texas) and two international sites (Mexico and Guatemala). A 125-item questionnaire covered risk factors, symptoms, treatments, and sequellae of AIDS. The cultural consensus model was used to determine the cultural beliefs for each sample. Responses from 161 people indicated that a single set of beliefs was present at each site and that beliefs were shared across sites. Comparison of answers between samples indicated high agreement (p < .0007). The proportion of shared beliefs, however, decreased significantly between samples: .68 in Connecticut, .60 in Texas, .51 in Mexico, and .41 in Guatemala (p < .05). The proportion of positive answers similarly decreased from Connecticut to Guatemala (p < .001). Beliefs were stronger and more detailed in the higher prevalence areas. Furthermore, Latino beliefs tended to converge on biomedical beliefs about the disease

Uso e diversidade de plantas medicinais em Santo Antonio do Leverger, MT, Brasil

O presente trabalho tem como objetivo fazer o levantamento etnobotânico de plantas com usos terapêuticos no município de Santo Antonio do Leverger, MT, e estimar a diversidade de espécies usadas. Foram entrevistados residentes adultos de ambos os sexos, junto com os quais foram coletadas as plantas, depositadas no Herbarium Rioclarense (HRCB). Identificaram-se 228 espécies, pertencentes a 73 famílias; 56% delas crescem espontaneamente em ambientes naturais ou antropicamente modificados, 41% são cultivadas e 3% são compradas. Os índices de diversidade encontrados comparam-se aos mais altos registrados na literatura para plantas medicinais em outras áreas tropicais. A riqueza e diversidade das plantas espontâneas podem espelhar até certo ponto a riqueza e diversidade de espécies no ambiente, enquanto tais parâmetros para as espécies cultivadas estariam mais ligados a fatores sócio-culturais que promovam a introdução de novas plantas e informações de uso a partir de fontes externas. Sugere-se que quando comunidades tradicionais se tornam mais expostas à sociedade nacional, o número de espécies e o conhecimento acerca de seu uso podem sofrer inicialmente um acréscimo, por aportes externos; mas, com o aprofundamento do contato, e as mudanças sócio-econômicas decorrentes, a tendência será que as plantas usadas com fins terapêuticos restrinjam-se às espécies cultivadas e invasoras cosmopolitas.<br>This work describes an ethnobotanical survey of medicinal plants in Santo Antonio do Leverger Municipality, Mato Grosso State, Brazil and estimates the diversity of species with therapeutic use. Adult dwellers, male and female, were interviewed and plant gathering undertaken with their assistance. Voucher specimens were deposited at the Herbarium Rioclarense (HRCB). 228 species were identified, belonging to 73 families; 56% of the species grow spontaneously in natural and anthropically modified habitats, 41% are cultivated and 3% are purchased. Diversity indexes are among the highest ones reported in literature for medicinal plants in other tropical areas. Richness and diversity of spontaneous species may mirror to certain extent environmental richness and diversity, whereas for cultivated species, these measures could be linked to socio-cultural factors enhancing introduction of new plants and use information from outside the area. It is suggested that when traditional communities become more exposed to society at large, species number and knowledge about their use may at first increase, by foreign input; but, with the socio-economic changes that come about over time, plants used for therapeutic aims will be limited to the cultivated species and cosmopolite weeds