Title from publisher's bibliographic system (viewed on 05 Oct 2015).

Why focus on AIDS? -- The socio-economic determinants of AIDS in Africa -- Poverty and AIDS -- AIDS and economic growth -- Economic analysis and the development dilemma -- Some philosophical underpinnings -- AIDS policy in South Africa -- A history of AIDS policy making in South Africa -- Disastrous high-profile quick-fix solutions -- The discourse of unaffordability of mother-to-child transmission prevention -- Questioning the science of AIDS -- The discourse of unaffordability of AIDS treatment -- The moral economy of triage -- What do Southern African citizens think about policy priorities? -- Mother-to-child transmission prevention in South Africa -- Methodological considerations -- Why South Africa cannot not afford mother-to-child transmission prevention -- Introducing substitute feeding -- But will the state actually treat the HIV-positive children for opportunistic infections? -- What about orphans? -- The government's response: a moral economy of triage? -- The issue of resource availability -- What has been happening to health expenditure on AIDS? -- How many children could be saved from HIV infection? -- Costing mother-to-child transmission prevention -- Expanding an AIDS intervention to include HAART for all who need it -- The impact of a limited AIDS intervention -- Improving the treatment of STDs -- Voluntary counselling and testing -- The impact of HAART -- The direct cost of providing HAART -- The cost of AIDS interventions -- Confronting the conventional economic wisdom -- What are the budgetary implications?

Relatively few people have access to antiretroviral treatment in South Africa. The government justifies this on grounds of affordability.Nicoli Nattrass argues that the government's view insulates AIDS policy from social discussion and efforts to fund large-scale intervention. Nattrass addresses South Africa's contentious AIDS policy from both an economic and ethical perspective, presenting: • a history of AIDS policy in South Africa • an expert analysis of the macroeconomic impact of AIDS • a delineation of the relationship between AIDS and poverty and the challenges it poses for development, inequality and social solidarity • an investigation into how a programme preventing mother-to-child transmission would be less expensive than having to treat children with AIDS-related illnesses • an exploration of the relationship between AIDS treatment and risky sexual behaviour • an economic and social case for expanded AIDS prevention and treatment intervention. This relevant and accessible work is a valuable resource for readers with an interest in AIDS policy and the social and economic implications of the pandemic.