Abstract
One possibility is that the increased prevalence of the disease will lead to greater tolerance as more Americans are personally affected and more health professionals come in contact with patients. Through an in-depth examination of the views held by the public and by health professionals toward those who have Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) or non-symptomatic human immunodeficiency virus infection, it is believed to help health professionals and policymakers better understand how our society is responding to this epidemic. The realities portrayed here suggest that AIDS will prove itself to be more than just another serious illness facing America’s health-care system. The disease has a number of characteristics that make it unique in modern society. It is difficult to predict whether and how public and professional attitudes will change as the epidemic goes on. The data reported come from a review of 60 national and international opinion surveys, including over 800 questions, conducted between 1983 and 1988. © 1989 by Cornell University Medical College.
