EVOLUTION OF SOCIOECONOMIC IMPACT ASSESSMENTS OF HIV AIDS/

Objective: The objective of this paper is to describe how and why soci oeconomic impact assessments, as applied to HIV/AIDS in developing cou ntries, have evolved over time and to discuss the direction that this field should be taking in the future. Design: This paper involves a re view of existing literature and incorporates the experience of AIDSCAP /Family Health International, the AIDS and Economics Network (AEN) and other organizations working in this field. Results: Socioeconomic imp act methodologies have become more rigorous over the last 10 years. Co ncurrently, they have been applied to achieve a new understanding of t he impact of AIDS on the economy. The results have been successfully u tilized because they are often compelling; to inform, sensitize and mo bilize policymakers. At the same time, however, demand is growing for socioeconomic impact assessments to continue to evolve to meet the nee ds of policymakers in developing countries. Conclusion: The tools that have been used in the past for performing socioeconomic impact assess ments will have to change significantly to reflect the needs of policy makers for more specific, policy-oriented analyses. Existing economic impact assessments in the field of HIV/AIDS will need to be replaced b y more targeted economic research intended to encourage the developmen t of appropriate workplace policies, mitigate the impact of HIV/ AIDS on families, and address critical treatment issues. (C) 1998 Lippincot t Williams & Wilkins.