A baseline study of AIDS in Texas: knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors

The Texas Department of Health reports that as of March 31, 1989, Texas ranked fifth in the nation for AIDS cases, with a total of 6,312 cases and 3,829 deaths. Cited in a report from the Texas Legislative Task Force on AIDS, TDH estimates that 100,000 Texans are infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), with Houston and Dallas ranking 4th and 10th respectively in the nation for AIDS cases. Since 1986, AIDS has been the leading cause of death for men 25-44 years of age in Houston, with Houston having more AIDS cases than 45 states, and Dallas more cases than 42 states, the report says. According to a preliminary announcement by the Centers for Disease Control concerning its HIV seroprevalence survey on college campuses, approximately 3/1,000 college students are HIV positive. The legislative task force estimates that by 1991, Texas will have 30,000 cases of AIDS and 250,000 Texans will be infected with HIV. The Texas death rate for AIDS is 61%, slightly higher than the national average, TDH says. Until a cure or vaccine for HIV is discovered, prevention through behavioral risk reduction will be the major focus among physicians and other health care professionals. Therefore, TDH commissioned a baseline study analyzing the knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of Texans. This special report prepared by University of Texas researchers Demetri Vacalis, PhD, Pamela J. Shoemaker, PhD, and Alfred McAlister, PhD, highlights the study's findings.