Research priorities are defined in the context of the traditional health practitioner's role in the prevention and control of AIDS. These include:

- traditional health practitioners' perceptions of AIDS (diagnosis, prevention, treatment, patient care, and “cure”);

- the community's perception of the traditional health practitioner's role and activities in AIDS prevention and control;

- relationship between modern health practitioners and traditional health practitioners in the delivery of primary health care;

- identification of the traditional health practitioner's clientele;

- specific traditional practices that could lead to HIV transmission to patients and/or to the traditional health practitioner;

- existing legal and ethical frameworks of traditional medical systems practice;

- counselling techniques of the traditional health practitioner;

- ways to promote cooperation of traditional health practitioners in scientific research on traditional medicine and AIDS;

- the best ways to inform traditional health practitioners and the general public about AIDS;

- ways to involve traditional health practitioners in epidemiological surveys and surveillance.

Present research policies in most countries do not reflect the role of traditional medicine in the delivery of health care. New research and development policies could greatly assist institutions in addressing the critical problem now being faced throughout the world of controlling and preventing the spread of AIDS.