The private costs of HIV/AIDS.
OBJECTIVE
To identify and, where possible, measure and value the private costs related to HIV/AIDS, that is, those costs that fall on the person with HIV/AIDS and the family/household/informal caregivers.


METHODS
Twenty-five people living with HIV - ranging from asymptomatic seropositive people, to people with AIDS - were followed prospectively to obtain information concerning the private costs (broadly defined) incurred. The participants resided in the Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington and Christchurch areas.


RESULTS
Private direct costs rise steeply as the illness progresses, from around $100 per month for asymptomatic people to around $400 per month for people with AIDS. Both indirect costs (foregone income) and intangibles (measured by a range of indicators) were also considerable.


CONCLUSIONS
The private costs of HIV/AIDS, defined in terms of direct, indirect and intangible costs, are significant and burdensome. Costing studies which ignore them will conceal, confuse and mislead.
Bowie
R D
RD
Department of Public Health, Wellington School of Medicine, Wellington.
Tobias
M I
MI
Williams
T
T
D000328:Adult; D017281:Cost of Illness; D004180:Direct Service Costs; D005260:Female; D005382:Financing, Personal / Q000191:economics*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000191:economics* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009520:New Zealand; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D012494:Sampling Studies