01423nas a2200253   4500000000100000008004100001260000900042653003900051653002300090653001700113653001800130653001100148653001200159653002200171653002500193653001800218100001500236245006800251300001200319490000700331050001600338520080100354022001401155       1989                            d  c198910aAcquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome10aAttitude to Health10aCivil Rights10aHealth policy10aHumans10aleprosy10aSocial Perception10aTerminology as Topic10aUnited States1 aVolinn I J00aIssues of definitions and their implications: AIDS and leprosy.  a1157-620 v29  aVOLINNN19893 a<p>It is demonstrated how definitions can determine social consequences of impairment and disability. A comparison between leprosy and AIDS provides the basis for the discussion. The United States is the geographic and political arena under consideration. Issues of classification as STD (sexually transmitted disease) or as contagious, communicable disease are relevant. An important factor to predict the social impact is the nomenclature utilized by CDC (Center for Disease Control). CDC represents the government as the official agency to gather and report morbidity and mortality information. Hypotheses to explain stigma on the basis of epidemiological bases are added to the usual sociological concepts or historical considerations. Potential application of the findings are discussed.</p>  a0277-9536