ABSTRACT
Culture is relevant to HIV/AIDS in that it influences beliefs about illness and sexual practices, language use and communication style, family roles and structure, and religious beliefs. Although HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment programs have become increasingly effective, health professionals are often challenged by cultural barriers to their implementation. Stan Sesser explains that there is such stigma attached to HIV/AIDS in Japan that the Japanese Ministry of Health and Welfare has funded an HIV testing clinic in Hawaii for Japanese citizens. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder does not exist in some cultures. People in individualist countries report more stress-related illnesses than do people in collectivist countries. Several studies of culture and health have taken advantage of what one might consider a natural experiment; that is, changes in health as a specific ethnic group migrates to another culture. Across cultures, seeking social support is the preferred style of coping with stress.
