Research Examines Public Opinion on Business and HIV/AIDS, Needle Exchange, Drug Access
- "U.S. Consumer Survey on AIDS," Global Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS: The survey results show that most U.S. consumers believe that companies should fight HIV/AIDS "actively." The survey of 800 consumers with household incomes greater than $50,000 showed that 96% of such consumers consider HIV/AIDS a "serious" issue, and 67% of consumers would pay more for a certain brand of product if they knew that "extra money was going specifically to a program to fight AIDS" (GBC release, 11/9).
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"The Role of Reproductive Health Providers in Preventing HIV," Alan Guttmacher Institute/UNAIDS/United Nations Population Fund/International Planned Parenthood Federation: The new analysis says that reproductive health providers are in a "strategic position to make significant contributions to closing the global HIV prevention gap." The analysis calls for "greater integration" of reproductive health and HIV prevention and treatment services. In addition, the analysis says in order for providers to reach their "full potential" in closing the gap in HIV prevention, the world will have to overcome financial shortfalls and resistance to public acknowledgement of women's and adolescents' sexuality (UNAIDS/AGI/UNFPA/IPPF release, 11/10).
- "Sterile Syringe Access Conditions and Variations in HIV Risk Among Drug Injectors in Three Cities," Addiction: The study shows that needle-exchange programs limiting the number of syringes injection drug users receive might not be as effective at curbing the spread of bloodborne diseases, including HIV, as programs that do not impose limits. Mohammed Malkin of the Pardee RAND Graduate School and colleagues between 1998 and 2000 examined needle-exchange programs in Hartford, Conn.; Oakland, Calif.; and Chicago. "It is vitally important for drug users who inject to have access to sterile needles in the least restrictive way," researcher Ricky Bluthenthal said, adding, "All syringe-exchange programs may not be equally effective. Our findings suggest ways to design programs so that they do the most to prevent the spread of infectious diseases" (RAND release, 11/8).
- "Pharmaceuticals and the Worldwide HIV Epidemic: Can a Stakeholder Model Work?" Journal of Public Policy & Marketing: The study examines the effectiveness of a change to a stakeholder model instead of the traditional profit-driven approach in the HIV/AIDS pharmaceuticals industry. Under such a model, companies would first serve the "needs of potential customers, regardless of their ability to pay." However, the authors, American Enterprise Institute Resident Scholar John Calfee and Visiting Fellow Roger Bate, conclude that adoption of a stakeholder approach "is likely to undermine essential research and development while doing little to curtail the HIV/AIDS epidemic" (Calfee/Bate, Journal of Public Policy and Marketing, Fall 2004).
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