NCJ Number
108973
Journal
New York State Journal of Medicine Volume: 87 Issue: 5 Dated: (May 1987) Pages: 264-272
Date Published
1987
Length
9 pages
Annotation
With the prospect of cities facing an increasing number of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) cases, this description of New York City's and San Francisco's responses to the AIDS epidemic may prove useful.
Abstract
Both cities have expended an enormous amount of local resources on the epidemic, although the public policy response has differed markedly between the cities. Although New York has had three times the AIDS caseload as San Francisco, it has spent less on public health education and other nonhospital-related health care services. The two cities' varied policy responses are due to differences in the magnitude of the epidemic; the patient mix; the role of risk groups in the political and economic life of the city; the scale of public health care systems, including the number of medical schools, the local media's impact; and the institutional roles of the health departments. The experiences of these two cities indicate that each community's response to AIDS will probably reflect the underlying social, economic, and political characteristics of AIDS victims and the existing structure and organizational roles of traditional health care and community-based service providers. 5 tables and 26 references. (Author abstract modified)