HIV / AIDS Neglect

In the 1980s, when HIV/AIDS first appeared, it mostly affected specific groups like gay men, drug users, and Haitian immigrants. But because people looked down on these groups and the disease, not much attention was given to HIV/AIDS. Society's views on things like homosexuality and drug use affected how people saw and dealt with HIV/AIDS. These groups faced a lot of judgment, so it was hard to talk openly about the problem or do something about it.

Many ignored HIV/AIDS, thinking it only affected certain groups and not seeing it as a big health crisis. Not knowing much about HIV/AIDS made things worse. People were scared and confused because they didn't understand how the disease spread or what it did to the body. The government didn't do much either. They didn't put enough money into research or programs to prevent or treat HIV/AIDS. Because of this neglect, many people got sick, and many died. It wasn't until later, in the late 1980s and early 1990s, that things started to change. More money was put into finding a cure, and people began to learn more about HIV/AIDS through education and awareness campaigns.

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Sources: 

A vivid 1983 reminder of initial AIDS scare. (2018, October 15). [Video]. NBC News. https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/lgbtq-history-month-early-days-america-s-aids-crisis-n919701 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021, March 26). The AIDS epidemic in the United States, 1981-early 1990s. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/museum/online/story-of-cdc/aids/index.html 
DeVita, T. (2022). Fighting a Plague: Doctors’ stories of challenge and innovation combatting the AIDS epidemic in 1980s New York City. Journal of the History of Medicine and Allied Sciences, 77(3), 316–342. https://doi.org/10.1093/jhmas/jrac015

Majumdar, B., & Mazaleni, N. (2010). The experiences of people living with HIV/AIDS and of their direct informal caregivers in a resource-poor setting. Journal of the International AIDS Society, 13, 20. https://doi.org/10.1186/1758-2652-13-20  

Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. (2024, February 9). HIV/AIDS. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hiv-aids/symptoms-causes/syc-20373524 
NBCUniversal News Group. (n.d.). LGBTQ History month: The Early Days of America’s AIDS crisis. NBCNews.com. https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/lgbtq-history-month-early-days-america-s-aids-crisis-n919701  

Oliver, M. (2020, April 29). AIDS epidemic: 30 Historic photos that changed the world. All That’s Interesting. https://allthatsinteresting.com/aids-epidemic#31 

World Health Organization. (n.d.). Why the HIV epidemic is not over. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/news-room/spotlight/why-the-hiv-epidemic-is-not-over