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HIV/AIDS remains one of India's major health concerns today, with 2.27 million people affected by the disease. Ineffective/inappropriate policy stances at the incipient stages of the epidemic are primarily to blame. The Indian government's slow progression through stages of denial and stalling to final acceptance for comprehensive action is analogous to the psychiatric model of dealing with grief. This qualitative study, based on in-depth interviews of key informants from urban health posts serving four slums in Delhi and Hyderabad cities, explores AIDS awareness and attitudes in the community and HIV/AIDS policy efficacy. Findings reveal (i) a largely reactive policy response creating a circular relationship between policy, prevalence, and awareness, where policies often create local patterns of HIV/AIDS occurrence and awareness, which then inform next steps; (ii) the existence of institutional and socioeconomic …