Modeling HIV Transmission and AIDS in the United States

This monograph describes the results of a project to use mathematical modelling and computer simulations to analyze HIV transmission dynamics and AIDS in various risk groups in the USA. Because there is more data available on homosexual men in San Francisco, this population is analyzed intensively. The risk groups considered in 15 subregions of the USA are homosexual men, injecting drug users (IDUs), homosexual IDUs, heterosexual partners of IDUs and children of female heterosexual partners and IDUs. A goal is to understand the AIDS epidemic in the USA by using a modelling approach to analyze the data. The monograph contains data, graphs and computer programme listings. Although mathematical models are used, the book does not require a mathematical background. Therefore, it is accessible to epidemiologists, modellers, mathematicians and students who are interested in the epidemiology of AIDS or in how modelling can contribute to the understanding of the transmission.