NCJ Number
119978
Date Published
1989
Length
10 pages
Annotation
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) assigned its Center for Prevention Services (CPS) responsibility for overseeing programs designed to research persons at increased risk of infection from the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).
Abstract
In 1989, CDC planned to provide $144 million to AIDS prevention programs (as compared to $25 million in 1986). The funds are funneled via cooperative agreements between CPS, responsible for providing general guidance and technical assistance, and State and local health departments, responsible for managing and operating health education and risk reduction programs. Because AIDS prevention programs have to address long-term modifications of sexual and drug-using behavior, CPS has hired additional staff with expertise in behavioral sciences and community health education methods. Despite staffing increases from 13 full-time employees in 1985 to 93 full-time employees in 1989 (and budget allocations to hire 33 more by the end of the fiscal year), the HIV epidemic continues to grow. State officials have reported that CPS has not provided adequate technical assistance for implementing their AIDS prevention programs. However, although CPS has funded 55 State and local health department efforts to develop Knowledge, Attitude, Beliefs, and Behavior (KABB) baseline data; State staffing problems have in some cases delayed KABB data collection. In addition, irregular funding cycles, fueled by the rapidly changing knowledge about the spread of HIV, have made it difficult for health departments to manage and plan effective programs. 2 tables.