Sociocultural Barriers to the Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine for HIV

The author investigated sociocultural barriers that constrain use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in the lives of people with HIV. Qualitative interviews with 62 persons with HIV revealed that 73% (n = 45) of interviewees were classified as potential users of CAM. These included both users and nonusers who expressed interests in using CAM or specific modalities but did not use. The demand for CAM was constrained to the extent that participants were unable to incorporate CAM into their health strategies. Three main CAM constraints dealt with obstacles stemming from the Culture of Medicine, the Social Organization of Alternative Medicine, and Everyday Life. From these constraints, the author drew conclusions about sociocultural factors that slow the diffusion of CAM into mainstream health practices.