Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

The Changing Face Of Hiv/Aids: An Anthropological And Epidemiological Study Of The Baton Rouge Area, Erica Brooke Gibson

LSU Master's Theses

The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and the resulting Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) became widespread in the early 1980’s. At the beginning of the epidemic, HIV/AIDS was affecting mainly gay men. As the disease began to spread, more diverse populations were affected. Now, two decades later, the face of HIV and AIDS has changed. In the year 2000, the Baton Rouge area (which includes the parishes of Ascension, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Iberville, Pointe Coupee, West Baton Rouge, and West Feliciana) had the highest detected rate of HIV/AIDS cases in the state, and the 16th highest detected rate of …