Public policies related to HIV/AIDS: Tensions between individual and collective needs. A working agenda for psychology in Latin America Article

Varas-Díaz, N, Toro-Alfonso, J. (2003). Public policies related to HIV/AIDS: Tensions between individual and collective needs. A working agenda for psychology in Latin America . 35(2),

cited authors

  • Varas-Díaz, N; Toro-Alfonso, J

fiu authors

abstract

  • The HIV/AIDS epidemic has impacted millions of people through-out the world. Latin America and the Caribbean are no exceptions with almost two million reported cases by 2002. Psychology has contributed significantly in the development of strategies to address the epidemic. However, as a discipline, it has been shy in getting involved in the process of developing State policies. In this work we present a review of HIV/AIDS related legislation and policies from Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panamá and Puerto Rico. Through qualitative content analysis we examine several policy dimensions in laws from each country. We recommend the review of training models in psychology to include the development of skills for intervention in policy issues. We conclude with an agenda with aims to develop a psychological praxis more involved in the analysis and development of public policies.

publication date

  • January 1, 2003

volume

  • 35

issue

  • 2