Biological and Behavioural Surveillance

1. Biological and Behavioural Surveillance

2. Behavioral Surveillance • HIV transmission and infection rates can be higher in some groups that practice behaviors conducive to HIV transmission such as: • Having sex without using a condom (unprotected sex) • Having unprotected sex with multiple partners • Having a high number of new partners • Injecting drugs with shared needles • Behavioral Surveys ask participants about their behaviors and practices that may influence HIV transmission, often in comparison to their demographics • Findings from behavioral surveys allow for well targeted and applicable prevention interventions

3. Uses of Behavioral Surveillance • Behavioral Surveillance: • Shows early warning about which groups/locations infection is likely to spread in/to • Helps to explain changes in HIV prevalence over time • Provides information for developing prevention programs • Can raise the awareness of HIV among policy-makers/donors • Can be (strategically) used to monitor and evaluate the impact of prevention programs as a whole

4. Limitations of Behavioral Surveillance • Behavioral surveillance alone can provide an indication of the practice and frequency of behaviors that may influence HIV transmission, and can be useful for HIV prevention interventions BUT • One of the greatest public health interventions is HIV screening, combined with comprehensive counseling and referrals • Implementing behavioral surveillance without an HIV testing component is a missed opportunity for a positive public health intervention, and a missed opportunity to correlate the practice and frequency of behaviors with HIV infection and transmission

5. Biological and Behavioral Surveillance

6. Biological and Behavioral Surveys • Biological and Behavioral Surveys ask participants about their behaviors and practices that may influence HIV transmission, as well as offer a screening for infections or ailments, such as HIV • This method allows participants who may have limited health access to be screened for HIV and other health needs, and to be provided with prevention information and/or treatment and care referrals • This method also allows public health providers to understand what behaviors, demographics, and other influencing factors may be influencing HIV transmission, and understand what prevention, treatment, or care interventions are needed

7. Uses of Biological and Behavioral Surveillance • Biological and Behavioral Surveillance: • Shows HIV prevalence of a population (can be a representative extrapolation); this can be compared to the general population to show relative needs • Demonstrates possible influence of behavior, environment, and/or demographic to HIV infection; this allows for specifically targeted prevention programs • Allows for a greater understanding of HIV prevention and testing access/barriers for those not yet tested, and HIV treatment and care access/barriers for those who are HIV positive • Changes in HIV prevalence over time can be measured; possible influencing factors can be discerned • Can be (strategically) used to monitor and evaluate the impact of prevention programs as a whole