ME-WINIK - DISCOVERY OF THE BIOMEDICAL EQUIVALENCE FOR A MAYA ETHNOMEDICAL SYNDROME

Investigation of the correspondence of ethnomedical illness syndromes and biomedical disease classification has led to the identification of a high prevalence of gallbaldder disease among the Tzeltal and Tzotzil Maya populations of Highland Chiapas. This condition, known to demonstrate exceptionally high rates among North American Indians, has not previously been described among the Highland Maya. The failure to recognize this serious health problem has been due primarily to cultural differences in understanding the anatomy and difficulties arising from communication of symptomatology. A focus on the interface of ethnomedicine and biomedicine is shown to have significance from both theoretical and applied perspectives.