HIV epidemic appraisals for assisting in the design of effective prevention programmes: shifting the paradigm back to basics.

ABSTRACT:

Background

To design HIV prevention programmes, it is critical to understand the temporal and geographic aspects of the local epidemic and to address the key behaviours that drive HIV transmission. Two methods have been developed to appraise HIV epidemics and guide prevention strategies. The numerical proxy method classifies epidemics based on current HIV prevalence thresholds. The Modes of Transmission (MOT) model estimates the distribution of incidence over one year among risk-groups. Both methods focus on the current state of an epidemic and provide short-term metrics which may not capture the epidemiologic drivers. Through a detailed analysis of country and sub-national data, we explore the limitations of the two traditional methods and propose an alternative approach.

Metho

SUBMITTER: Mishra S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3291609 | biostudies-literature | 2012

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature