USING EXISTING HEALTH-CARE SYSTEMS TO RESPOND TO THE AIDS EPIDEMIC - RESEARCH AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CHILE

Chile is a country with a relatively low prevalence of HIV infection, where successful prevention has the potential to change the future cou rse of the epidemic. A controversial national prevention strategy base d upon public education has emerged in response to characterizations o f the epidemic as well-dispersed with a growing involvement of heteros exuals. This characterization is not consistent with the observed fact s. There is a comparatively well-organized health care system in Santi ago that is doing a good job of detecting HIV infection and already ha s in place the elements of a targeted intervention scheme. Chile shoul d place priority on the use of the existing health care infrastructure for implementing both the traditional public hearth interventions for sexually transmitted diseases (contact tracing and partner notificati on) and the AIDS-necessitated strategy of focused counseling and educa tion.