Epidemiological observations in the AIDS clinic at the Hadassah University Hospital in Jerusalem.

Of the 1st 395 attendees at the AIDS clinic in Jerusalem 32% were homosexuals or bisexuals 4% were intravenous drug abusers (IVDAs) 24% were persons at minimal risk for AIDS and 38% were persons at no risk. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) antibody rates were 7% for homosexuals 29% for IVDAs 1% for those at minimal risk and 0% for those at no risk. Israeli homosexuals had a significantly greater risk for HIV infection (9 of 35) if they had sexual contact with non-Israelis as compared with homosexuals who had contact with local partners only (0/91 p<0.001). The mean number of attendees/month increased by 431% during the 4 months following the 1st prime time TV program on AIDS. The largest mean increases occurred among those at no risk (1-27.2) those with minimal risk (2.5-16.5) and among women (1.25-20.0). This report indicates that HIV infection among Israeli homosexuals has not yet reached US proportions. It also shows that the TV program raised anxiety concerning AIDS among the general public and probably encouraged the public to use HIV testing as a part of a general health screening program. (authors)