AIDS in the public eye: is the epidemic viewed as a crisis?

To determine public opinion about the importance of AIDS as a social and policy issue, we conducted a telephone survey of a nationwide random probability sample of adults in the United States, summer 1991. Thirteen hundred and fifty adults completed the survey. The response rate was 63%. We found that 93% of respondents believe that AIDS is a crisis, and 90% believe that AIDS in the US is out of control. In addition, most people reported believing that the government should spend as much as necessary to solve the AIDS epidemic and that AIDS is a problem for everyone in society, not just those who have the disease. Respondents who had a personal connection to the AIDS epidemic (e.g., knew someone infected with HIV) and those who did not have such a connection equally believe that AIDS is an important social and political issue. In conclusion, we found that AIDS is being accorded great importance by the majority of the US public, regardless of demographic group membership and individual personal connection to the epidemic. However, AIDS scientists must be mindful of potential shifts in public opinion when considering strategies to disseminate research findings.