Article Text
Abstract
Identification of causes of changes in prevalence and incidence of HIV at a national level is important for planning future prevention and intervention needs. However, the slow progression to disease and the sensitive and stigmatising nature of the associated behaviours can make this difficult. Changing rates of incidence are to be expected as an epidemic progresses, but separating background changes from those brought about by changes in behaviour and interventions requires careful analysis. This paper discusses the criteria required to determine whether observed changes in HIV prevalence are the result of changes in behaviour.
- AIDS, acquired immune deficiency syndrome
- HIV, human immunodeficiency virus
- STI, sexually transmitted infection
- UNAIDS, Joint United Nations Programme on AIDS
- behaviour change
- HIV
- epidemiology
- incidence trends
- surveillance
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Footnotes
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GPG and SG thank UNAIDS, the UK MRC, The Wellcome Trust, and the CDCP Zimbabwe for grant support
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Competing interests: none declared
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Edited by N Walker, H Ward and R Miller