HIV sentinel surveillance system

1. The meaning of surveillance

HIV surveillance is the way to know the level of problem through collecting systematic data and distribution follow up and tendency of infection and other related diseases.

2. The meaning of HIV sentinel surveillance

HIV sentinel surveillance is HIV surveillance which is using certain (sentinel) sub-population to supervise HIV prevalence and other related diseases. This will be more effective and easier than to supervise the prevalence in community.

3. Purpose

A. General purpose

Getting the information about epidemic problem level and HIV tendency infection in one area.

B. Specific purpose

- Supervise the sero-prevalence in certain population

- Supervise HIV infection tendency based on time and location

- Provide the data for estimation and HIV – AIDS projection case

- Using prevalence data for advocating of stakeholders

- Harmonizing HIV control program with health service planning

- Provide the information for TB –HIV program

4. Procedure and rule of HIV sentinel surveillance

The procedures of HIV sentinel surveillance are:

a. Determine sentinel population based on sub-population target and place (such as: prostitutes, addicted person, male prisoners, transsexual, pregnant women which come to mother to child clinic in sentinel area, male STIs patient in STIs clinic, travelers)

b. Determine the number of sample that is checked from routine specimen which taken in sub-population and certain location. Routine specimen is the blood samples, which is collected to routine check of other purpose, for example: prostitute or STIs patient routine syphilis check.

c. Unlinked anonymous for HIV test, to decrease bias effect against participants. With this method, patient identity cannot identify. So, we cannot inform the result to patient. We will only get the amount of HIV positive, not who is positive.

d. HIV sentinel surveillance begins in some location and extends according to need.

e. We can’t and forbidden to use HIV surveillance in finding HIV cases.

f. HIV surveillance should keep the target confidentially; remove the specimen identity that is using for HIV test.

5. Authority and responsibility

HIV sentinel surveillance is one of government responsibility through MoH known as disease control and public health department in central level and province level and district / city through Health Officer (DHO and PHO).

(source: hm magazine)