How Americans Feel About AIDS

Regarded by many as the distinctive plague of the modern era, AIDS certainly caught major social institutions - particularly the government, the health care system, and the economy - by surprise when it was initially noticed by medical practitioners in the 1970s. It has since spread around the world. While there are encouraging new therapies to treat people, there is currently no way to eradicate AIDS by medical means. Therefore, it is essential to protect people by reducing the transmission of the fatal virus. But how is this to be done? And whose responsibility is it? To find out more about the impact of AIDS and how Americans feel about this health problem, visit Public Agenda Online (www.publicagenda.org), and then under "The Issues" on the left-hand side of the page click on Health Care. Next, click on Quick Takes, scroll down to AIDS, select the second graph, and answer the following questions:

1. In what year did death from AIDS in the U.S. peak?
2. How many deaths occurred from AIDS in the U.S. in the peak year?
3. The trend on the graph suggests that U.S. AIDS deaths are declining. Why do you think this is the case?

Click your web browser's Back button, and select the third graph under AIDS.

4. Look at the years 1993 and 1997. Why do you think that fewer AIDS cases were diagnosed in 1997? Do you expect this trend to continue? Explain.

Click your Back button again, and from the left-hand side of the page under "Public Opinion" click on People's Chief Concerns, then scroll down and click on "AIDS and cancer top the list of the most urgent health problems today in the eyes of the public, but most Americans believe cures will be found in the near future." Now answer these questions:

5. What percent of those polled consider AIDS to be the most urgent health problem presently facing the country?
6. What percent think that a cure will be discovered during the lifetime of a child born on January 1, 2000?
7. Do you think that a cure for AIDS will be discovered during your own lifetime?