Asunto(s)
Enfermedades Transmisibles/epidemiología , Enfermedades Transmisibles/transmisión , Redes de Comunicación de Computadores , Brotes de Enfermedades/prevención & control , Salud Pública/métodos , Animales , Salud Global , Humanos , Informática Médica/métodos , Vigilancia de la Población/métodos , Administración en Salud Pública/métodosRESUMEN
This article highlights for the practicing physician some of the more important laws and regulations related to and arising from the AIDS epidemic. Medical-legal issues regarding the availability of health care as defined by federal and state law regarding employment and level of medical care given based on HIV status is discussed. Texas law regarding testing, disclosure of test results, and possible claims that could arise due to issues such as the invasion of privacy are examined along with criminal penalties for transmitting the virus to others, insurance, and insurability. Finally, the June 1989 Human Immunodeficiency Virus Services Act and Senate Omnibus Bill 959, which was passed into law, is briefly outlined.
Asunto(s)
Síndrome de Inmunodeficiencia Adquirida , Legislación Médica , Médicos , Síndrome de Inmunodeficiencia Adquirida/diagnóstico , Síndrome de Inmunodeficiencia Adquirida/terapia , Adulto , Niño , Confidencialidad , Femenino , Accesibilidad a los Servicios de Salud , Humanos , Lactante , Seguro/legislación & jurisprudencia , Masculino , Prejuicio , TexasRESUMEN
The Texas Department of Health reports that as of March 31, 1989, Texas ranked fifth in the nation for AIDS cases, with a total of 6,312 cases and 3,829 deaths. Cited in a report from the Texas Legislative Task Force on AIDS, TDH estimates that 100,000 Texans are infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), with Houston and Dallas ranking 4th and 10th respectively in the nation for AIDS cases. Since 1986, AIDS has been the leading cause of death for men 25-44 years of age in Houston, with Houston having more AIDS cases than 45 states, and Dallas more cases than 42 states, the report says. According to a preliminary announcement by the Centers for Disease Control concerning its HIV seroprevalence survey on college campuses, approximately 3/1,000 college students are HIV positive. The legislative task force estimates that by 1991, Texas will have 30,000 cases of AIDS and 250,000 Texans will be infected with HIV. The Texas death rate for AIDS is 61%, slightly higher than the national average, TDH says. Until a cure or vaccine for HIV is discovered, prevention through behavioral risk reduction will be the major focus among physicians and other health care professionals. Therefore, TDH commissioned a baseline study analyzing the knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of Texans. This special report prepared by University of Texas researchers Demetri Vacalis, PhD, Pamela J. Shoemaker, PhD, and Alfred McAlister, PhD, highlights the study's findings.
Asunto(s)
Síndrome de Inmunodeficiencia Adquirida , Conducta Sexual , Síndrome de Inmunodeficiencia Adquirida/epidemiología , Síndrome de Inmunodeficiencia Adquirida/etnología , Síndrome de Inmunodeficiencia Adquirida/mortalidad , Adulto , Actitud Frente a la Salud , Femenino , Encuestas Epidemiológicas , Humanos , Masculino , TexasRESUMEN
To determine if heterosexual activity was a risk factor for acquiring hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, we studied attendees at a sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinic and students at a large university. Responses to self-administered questionnaires were used to exclude persons with factors known to be related to the acquisition of HBV and to determine the number of recent (past four months) and lifetime sexual partners. Serum samples were tested for hepatitis B surface antigen, antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen, and antibody to hepatitis B core antigen. For white heterosexuals in the STD group, the prevalence of HBV infection was 6% for those with fewer than five recent partners vs 21% for those with five or more partners, and 5% for those with fewer than 50 lifetime partners vs 20% for those with 50 or more partners. For black heterosexuals in the STD group, no association was found between prevalence of HBV infection and number of recent or lifetime sexual partners. For the heterosexual student group (all white), the prevalence of HBV infection was 1.5% for fewer than three recent partners vs 14% for three or more partners, and 2% for fewer than ten lifetime partners vs 7% for ten or more partners. For white heterosexuals, the risk of acquiring HBV infection increases with increasing amounts of sexual activity and may reach a level similar to that of other groups previously recognized to be at high risk of acquiring hepatitis B.