Dissertation Research: Cultural Variables in Medical Treatment Choice in a Peasant Community

西方医疗技术已经被引入到世界各地的大多数土著社区。然而，它们并不总是被使用，人们为什么选择使用或不使用这些治疗方法的原因尚不清楚。该项目探讨了秘鲁丘古尔潘帕的医疗选择与人们认为的健康结果之间的关系，丘古尔潘帕是一个安第斯社区，农民在那里可以获得西药和本土药物。研究人员将考察与认知相关的文化变量和外力，从而完善当前忽略这些变量的选择模型。这项研究将通过确定影响土著人民医疗选择的因素和改进科学家衡量健康结果的手段，对医学人类学作出贡献。它还将有助于更好地为土著居民制定保健规划。

Western medical techniques have been introduced to most indigenous communities worldwide. Yet they are not always used and the reasons why individuals choose to use or not use these treatments is not understood. This project explores the relationship between choice of medical treatment and perceived health outcomes in Chugurpampa, Peru, an Andean community where peasants have access to both western and indigenous medicines. The researcher will look at cultural variables and external forces with regard to perception, thereby refine current choice models that ignore these variables. This study will contribute to medical anthropology by determining the factors that account for the medical choices of indigenous peoples and by improving the means with which scientists measure health outcomes. It will also contribute to better health care planning for indigenous populations.