HIV Infection in the Dominican Republic

Abstract

To the Editor.— I read with great interest the article by Koenig et al.1As a medical anthropologist, I focused not only on the medical findings but also on the article's social and behavioral claims. I investigated the ethnological record on Haiti and the Dominican Republic (S. Murray, K. Payne, written communication, March 1987)2; I also read the medical reports related to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) in both countries. Clearly, a lot of careful attention has been given to serological studies. What puzzles me is why these same researchers so freely accept anecdotal information on the sexual practices of their informants. Like others, Koenig et al uncritically repeat allegations of widespread homosexual activity between tourists and local male prostitutes. Dr Jean-Michel Guerin, who treats AIDS patients in Port-au-Prince and works closely with GHESKIO, reported that "all of his patients—without exception—had denied having sex with tourists" (The New York