Biomedical and Social Aspects of Pediatric AIDS

Pediatric AIDS is a major cause of developmental and physical disability and death among infants and children in the United States. In this paper, the authors elaborate the notion that pediatric AIDS is a complex bio-ecological problem, review the biomedical aspects of pediatric AIDS, and explore relevant economic, political, and social issues. This ecological framework sets the stage for efforts to improve the quality of early intervention decisions. The premise is that society must move toward a conceptualization of AIDS-related intervention practices and social policy based on the notion of a unified community and body politic, stressing mutual aid and voluntary cooperation. This conceptualization is consistent with public health values and represents a fruitful route to effective national and local policy. An overview of early intervention options is presented.