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Biomedical subjects

Randell Alexander

Publications and source records attributed to Randell Alexander.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

Western medicine and traditional healers: partners in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

Prevention and control programs for HIV/AIDS have had limited success, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. Not surprising, most residents see traditional healers as their only option to meet their healthcare needs. Some patients refuse surgery or other medical treatment unless their traditional healer sanctions the treatment first. Formally trained doctors have finally begun to consider traditional healers as potential allies in the battle to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS by recognizing that the longstanding trust and credibility of these healers in the black communities can facilitate change in sexual behavior. Innovative and effective approaches, including utilization of traditional healers, can play a vital role in Africa's AIDS prevention and control programs.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

Media influences on children and adolescents: violence and sex.

The portrayal of violence, sex, and drugs/alcohol in the media has been known to adversely affect the behavior of children and adolescents. There is a strong association between perceptions of media messages and observed behavior, especially with children. Lately, there has been more of a focus in the public health/medical field on media influences of youth and the role of the pediatrician and/or healthcare worker in addressing this area of growing concern. There is a need to explicitly explore the influences of media violence, sex, and drugs/alcohol on youth within the context of the Social Learning Theory. Implications of these influences are discussed, and recommendations for pediatricians and/or health care workers who interact with children and adolescents are described. Pediatricians and health care workers should incorporate media exposure probes into the developmental history of their patients and become knowledgeable about the effects of medial influences on youth.

Adolescent↗