This paper focuses on variability in beliefs about AIDS among Latin Americans, as compared with middle class Americans. Four geographically dispersed groups of Latin Americans were chosen for study as well as a middle class, largely Anglo-American population. Coherent sets of beliefs were found at each site, and despite tremendous variability among the five populations, beliefs were remarkably similar across sites. The biomedical model is widely shared, and the critical variable in the extent to which it is understood is community prevalence of AIDS
