AIDS: problems encountered in anthropological research.

Medical science has up to now not discovered a means to fight HTV and it is obvious that the ep idem ic can only be con tro lled by prevention. Those disciplines from the hum anities that could make the most meaningful contribution in this regard would be those that study, or ought to study sexuality, nam ely , p sycho logy , socio logy and anthropology. The communication sciences and nursing belong here as well and ought to play a crucial role. Regarding the specific relationship between anthropology and nursing, D ougherty and Tripp-Reimer comment "Anthropology traditionally is slow to validate theory; it is difficult to do so in ethnographic settings. Explication of research methods in anthropology is increasing because more research is conducted in interdisciplinary settings where fieldwork methods are examined by other disciplines. Nursing provides an arena in which theory and research methods are refined" (1990:182).