AEGiS-07IAC: The social and economic impact of AIDS in Latin America and the Caribbean.

7th International AIDS Conference

Florence, Italy — June 16-21, 1991

The social and economic impact of AIDS in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Int Conf AIDS 1991 Jun 16-21; 7:21 (abstract no. W.D.8)
Rivera-Dueno J, Borras F, Kouri Y, Shepard D, Sotomayor J, Rizek R; San Juan AIDS Institute, San Juan, Puerto Rico

OBJECTIVE: 1) to assess the direct and indirect costs of AIDS in Puerto Rico; 2) to compare these data with those from other Latin American and Caribbean countries, 3) to discuss policy implications regarding alternative management models.

METHODS: Assess the number of AIDS cases, determine the use of health services of each case compared to a healthy person of the same gender and economic group, interview decision makers to define treatment models; relate the findings to decision makers' description of treatment models.

RESULTS: Life-time cost per AIDS case in Puerto Rico is $100,000 (20% direct and 80% indirect), if present growth of AIDS cases continues, total cost in 1992 will be 2% of GDP. Costs per case are generally lower in other Latin American and Caribbean countries, although selected cities have high rates, on a country basis, incidence is lower that Puerto Rico and cost constitutes a lower share of GDP.

CONCLUSION: The economic burden of AIDS is substantial. Treatment models with comprehensive care, prevention, and alternatives to in-patient care can reduce this burden.

Keywords: AEGIS, Latin America, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, Caribbean Region, Costs and Cost Analysis, Puerto Rico, Health Services, Financing, Organized, Human, psychology, economics, ICA7
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