Gallagher KM, Sullivan PS, Onorato I; International Conference on AIDS (15th : 2004 : Bangkok, Thailand).
Int Conf AIDS. 2004 Jul 11-16; 15: abstract no. C10742.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta, United States
Issues: Although many studies have collected information about behaviors that put persons at increased risk for HIV infection, until now, no national behavioral surveillance of high risk populations has been conducted in the US. Data collected will be critical for allocating prevention resources to those at greatest risk and for evaluating current prevention efforts. Description: In 2002, the CDC began collaborating with state and city health departments in the US to develop a national HIV behavioral surveillance system(NHBS) in persons at risk for HIV infection. The objectives of NHBS are to assess risk behaviors, HIV testing; and exposure to and use of HIV prevention services. NHBS data will be collected in annual waves cycling among men who have sex with men (MSM), injecting drug users (IDU), and high risk heterosexuals (HRH). Standard criteria will be used to recruit participants and a standard questionnaire will be used to collect data. Implementation of the first cycle of NHBS in MSM began in 2003 in 16 large cities as a collaboration among key communities including public health, academia and MSM. Lessons Learned: Many challenges have arisen including developing standard protocols, building consensus about eligibility and questionnaire elements, and determining adequate sample size. Community input has been key in addressing these challenges. To obtain representative samples of MSM, IDU, and HRH, different sampling methods are needed. Conducting NHBS among HRH represents a particular challenge and will require extensive formative research to define HRH and identify methods for recruitment. Recommendations: In order for NHBS to be sustainable, it needs to be simple, acceptable to the community and flexible to changing public health needs. Data must be useful to prevention programs and for monitoring trends in the epidemic. This can be achieved using a collaborative approach among stakeholders in the public health, scientific and affected communities.
Publication Types:
Keywords:
- Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.)
- Counseling
- Disease Outbreaks
- Federal Government
- HIV Infections
- HIV Seropositivity
- Health Services
- Humans
- Male
- Risk-Taking
Other ID:
UI: 102277166
From Meeting Abstracts