Km. Decock et al., THE PUBLIC-HEALTH IMPLICATIONS OF AIDS RESEARCH IN AFRICA, JAMA, the journal of the American Medical Association, 272(6), 1994, pp. 481-486
The human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (H
IV/AIDS) epidemic has led to greatly increased international collabora
tion for medical research, mainly epidemiologic in nature, in Africa.
Greater understanding of HIV/AIDS has resulted, and considerable train
ing and technology transfer have occurred. However, analytic and descr
iptive research in countries heavily affected by AIDS has been slow to
turn to assessment of interventions, and practical benefits to those
countries' public health and policies have lagged behind scientific kn
owledge. This article considers the public health implications of sele
cted HIV/AIDS research in sub-Saharan Africa and discusses opportuniti
es for interventions and more applied research. Topics covered include
HIV testing and its role, surveillance, control of sexually transmitt
ed diseases, the vulnerability of youth and women, tuberculosis, HIV/A
IDS care, and the inadequacy of resources currently committed to HIV/A
IDS prevention and control in resource-poor countries. Research on HIV
/AIDS in Africa has yielded crucial information but now should priorit
ize interventions and their evaluation. Specific goals that might limi
t the effects of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in resource-poor countries are
achievable given vision, commitment, and resources.