General Objectives and Methods in HIV/AIDS Surveillance

Abstract

Preventing transmission of virus is still the single intervention known as effective in limiting the spread of HIV infection. So, the epidemiological surveillance of HIV/AIDS is an important tool used by public health specialists in controlling epidemics. Epidemiological surveillance is a continuous process of collecting, analysing, interpreting and disseminating data in order to plan, implement and assess public health interventions. The objectives of HIV/AIDS surveillance should be specific, measurable, transformed into actions, realistic, planned to be done in due time. The main methods used by HIV/AIDS surveillance in collecting the data are biological surveillance, behavioural surveillance, other sources of information. The main indicators recommended for any HIV/AIDS programme components include the fields of politics, condoms availability and quality, social stigmatus & discrimination, knowledge, vertical transmission, sex negotiation and attitude, sexual behaviour, especially in youngsters, injection with drugs, safe blood and derivatives, STI treatment and prevention, care and social support, social & health impact. Data collected by public health surveillance systems guide the responses to the events, measure and monitor the burden of the disease, assess public health politics, etc.. Integrated approach in epidemiological surveillance takes into account, generally, the integration of all activities that have to do with epidemiological surveillance into a single service with multiple functions using the same structures, procedures and personnel. Second generation HIV/AIDS surveillance is a WHO concept developped on modular systems. The metodology in risk behaviour surveillance studies includes: justifying, behavioural risk, methods for collecting data, behavioural data value, steps in organizing behavioural surveillance studies.