Moving towards a reliable HIV incidence test - current status, resources available, future directions and challenges ahead.

In 2011 the Incidence Assay Critical Path Working Group reviewed the current state of HIV incidence assays and helped to determine a critical path to the introduction of an HIV incidence assay. At that time the Consortium for Evaluation and Performance of HIV Incidence Assays (CEPHIA) was formed to spur progress and raise standards among assay developers, scientists and laboratories involved in HIV incidence measurement and to structure and conduct a direct independent comparative evaluation of the performance of 10 existing HIV incidence assays, to be considered singly and in combinations as recent infection test algorithms. In this paper we report on a new framework for HIV incidence assay evaluation that has emerged from this effort over the past 5 years, which includes a preliminary target product profile for an incidence assay, a consensus around key performance metrics along with analytical tools and deployment of a standardized approach for incidence assay evaluation. The specimen panels for this evaluation have been collected in large volumes, characterized using a novel approach for infection dating rules and assembled into panels designed to assess the impact of important sources of measurement error with incidence assays such as viral subtype, elite host control of viraemia and antiretroviral treatment. We present the specific rationale for several of these innovations, and discuss important resources for assay developers and researchers that have recently become available. Finally, we summarize the key remaining steps on the path to development and implementation of reliable assays for monitoring HIV incidence at a population level.

Cuidados paliativos y tratamiento del dolor en la solidaridad internacional / Palliative care and pain treatment: international solidarity

Los cuidados paliativos (CP) y el tratamiento del dolor (TD) son elementos esenciales para mejorar o mantener la calidad de vida de muchos enfermos afectados por procesos incurables, crónicos o terminales. Su necesidad se acentúa en países con bajos y medianos recursos donde la incidencia del cáncer y de otras enfermedades como el sida va en aumento, con una alta proporción de pacientes diagnosticados en fase avanzada y con un muy difícil acceso a unos CP o TD adecuados, a pesar de que son la única alternativa realista y humana al abandono que sufren la gran mayoría de estos enfermos. Además el perfil epidemiológico de muchos países del sur está cambiando con un aumento de enfermedades crónicas y el acceso a niveles más altos de cobertura de antirretrovirales. Para modificar esta situación, los gobiernos deben incorporar los CP y el TD en sus sistemas de salud. También es necesario que éstos se consideren una forma más de cooperación internacional. Se revisan diversos aspectos para una mayor colaboración sanitaria española en este campo con Latinoamérica y África, y se sugieren vías para hacerlo a distintos niveles institucionales y asociativos (AU)

Palliative care and pain treatment are essential to improve or maintain quality of life in many patients with incurable, chronic or terminal diseases. The need for palliative careis more pressing in countries with scarce or medium resources and where the incidence of cancer and other diseases such as AIDS is increasing. In these countries, a high proportion of patients are diagnosed in the advanced stage of the disease and access to appropriate palliative care and pain treatment is difficult, even though these options are the only realistic and human alternatives to the abandonment experienced by most of these patients. Moreover, the epidemiological profile of many southern countries is changing, with an increase of chronic diseases and access to higher levels of antiretroviral coverage. To modify this situation, governments should incorporate palliative care and pain treatment in their health systems and these options should also be seen as one more form of international cooperation. The present article reviews several factors required for greater healthcare collaboration between Spain and Latin America and Africa and suggests ways to achieve this collaboration through distinct institutions and associations (AU)

The quality of sero-surveillance in low- and middle-income countries: status and trends through 2007.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the quality of HIV sero-surveillance systems in 127 low-income and middle-income countries by 2007, as well as gaps in data needed for reliable estimates of HIV prevalence and size of populations at risk for infection. METHODS: The quality of countries' surveillance systems was scored using information from 2001 through 2007. Sero-surveillance data were compiled from the US Census Bureau's HIV/AIDS Surveillance Database, from countries' national HIV surveillance reports available to UNAIDS, from demographic and health survey (DHS) data, from the scientific literature and from countries' Estimation and Projection Programme (EPP) data files. The quality of systems was scored according to the classification of the epidemic in each country (generalised, concentrated or low-level). RESULT: The number of countries categorised as fully functioning in 2007 was 40. 43 countries were identified as partially functioning while 44 were categorised as poorly functioning. Low scores were most often attributed to a lack of recent data or data from appropriate risk groups. CONCLUSION: Many countries still have poorly functioning surveillance systems. The inclusion of HIV testing in national population-based surveys in recent years has resulted in some countries with generalised epidemics receiving higher coverage scores, but many countries with concentrated or low-level epidemics continue to lack data on high-risk populations.

The 2005 Workbook: an improved tool for estimating HIV prevalence in countries with low level and concentrated epidemics.

OBJECTIVE: This paper describes improvements and updates to an established approach to making epidemiological estimates of HIV prevalence in countries with low level and concentrated epidemics. METHODS: The structure of the software used to make estimates is briefly described, with particular attention to changes and improvements. DISCUSSION: The approach focuses on identifying populations which, through their behaviour, are at high risk of infection with HIV or who are exposed through the risk behaviour of their sexual partners. Estimates of size and HIV prevalence of these populations allow the total number of HIV infected people in a country or region to be estimated. Major changes in the software focus on the move away from short term projections and towards developing an epidemiological curve that more accurately represents the change in prevalence of HIV over time. The software continues to provide an output file for use in the Spectrum software so as to estimate the demographic impact of HIV infection at country level.

National population based HIV prevalence surveys in sub-Saharan Africa: results and implications for HIV and AIDS estimates.

BACKGROUND: Sentinel surveillance among pregnant women attending antenatal clinics (ANCs) has been the main source of information on HIV trends in sub-Saharan Africa. These data have also been used to generate national HIV and AIDS estimates. New technologies and resources have allowed many countries to conduct national population based surveys that include HIV prevalence measurement, as an additional source of information on the AIDS epidemic. METHODS: The authors reviewed the reports of 20 national population based surveys from 19 countries carried out in sub-Saharan Africa since 2001. They examined the sampling methodology, HIV testing and response rates, and female:male and urban:rural prevalence ratios. They also constructed adjusted prevalence scenarios assuming different relative risks for survey non-responders. RESULTS: The national population based surveys vary considerably in quality, as reflected in the household response rate (ranging from 75.4% to 99.7%), women's testing rate (ranging from 68.2% to 97.3%), and men's testing rate (ranging from 62.2% to 95.4%), while for some surveys detailed response information is lacking. While 95% confidence intervals around the female:male and urban:rural prevalence ratios in individual countries are large, the median female:male ratio of the combined set of surveys results is 1.5 and the median urban:rural ratio 1.7. A scenario assuming that non-responders have twice the HIV prevalence of those who fully participated in the survey suggests that individual non-response could result in an adjusted HIV prevalence 1.03 to 1.34 times higher than the observed prevalence. CONCLUSIONS: Population based surveys can provide useful information on HIV prevalence levels and distribution. This information is being used to improve national HIV and AIDS estimates. Further refinements in data collection, analysis, and reporting, combined with high participation rates, can further improve HIV and AIDS estimates at national and regional level.

Declines in HIV prevalence can be associated with changing sexual behaviour in Uganda, urban Kenya, Zimbabwe, and urban Haiti.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether observed changes in HIV prevalence in countries with generalised HIV epidemics are associated with changes in sexual risk behaviour. METHODS: A mathematical model was developed to explore the relation between prevalence recorded at antenatal clinics (ANCs) and the pattern of incidence of infection throughout the population. To create a null model a range of assumptions about sexual behaviour, natural history of infection, and sampling biases in ANC populations were explored to determine which factors maximised declines in prevalence in the absence of behaviour change. Modelled prevalence, where possible based on locally collected behavioural data, was compared with the observed prevalence data in urban Haiti, urban Kenya, urban Cote d'Ivoire, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Rwanda, Uganda, and urban Ethiopia. RESULTS: Recent downturns in prevalence observed in urban Kenya, Zimbabwe, and urban Haiti, like Uganda before them, could only be replicated in the model through reductions in risk associated with changes in behaviour. In contrast, prevalence trends in urban Cote d'Ivoire, Malawi, urban Ethiopia, and Rwanda show no signs of changed sexual behaviour. CONCLUSIONS: Changes in patterns of HIV prevalence in urban Kenya, Zimbabwe, and urban Haiti are quite recent and caution is required because of doubts over the accuracy and representativeness of these estimates. Nonetheless, the observed changes are consistent with behaviour change and not the natural course of the HIV epidemic.

Behavioural data as an adjunct to HIV surveillance data.

BACKGROUND: Second generation surveillance for HIV aims to improve the validity and utility of routine serial HIV prevalence data. It includes the collection of data on sexual behaviour and sexually transmitted disease prevalence. METHODS: This paper reviews the function of sexual behaviour data in HIV surveillance and the methods used to determine which behaviours are monitored and how changes in behaviour can be assessed. RESULTS: Sexual behaviour data provide a poor predictor of the future spread of HIV, but these data can provide corroboration of changes in HIV incidence and assist in attributing changes to particular aspects of risk. Significance tests should be used to assess changes in behaviour, but this requires transparent reporting of methods and sample sizes. CONCLUSIONS: Collection of behavioural data will provide important retrospective information about the HIV epidemic progress and should not be neglected because of the focus on improving HIV sero-surveillance.

The workbook approach to making estimates and projecting future scenarios of HIV/AIDS in countries with low level and concentrated epidemics.

This paper describes an approach to making estimates and short term projections of future scenarios of HIV/AIDS in countries with low level and concentrated epidemics. This approach focuses on identifying populations which through their behaviour are at higher risk of infection with HIV or who are exposed through the risk behaviour of their sexual partners. Estimates of the size and HIV prevalence of these populations allow the total number of HIV infected people in a country or region to be estimated. Subsequently, assumptions about the possible level and timing of saturation of HIV prevalence among each population can be used to explore future scenarios of HIV prevalence. The basic structure of the software used to make estimates and projections is described. This software includes a set of consistency and audit checks to help exclude unrealistic projections. The paper also discusses the strengths and weakness to this approach to making estimates and projections of HIV/AIDS in countries with low level and concentrated epidemics.

A global analysis of trends in the quality of HIV sero-surveillance.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the quality of HIV sero-surveillance systems in countries by 2002, as well as trends between 1995 and 2002. METHODS: The quality of countries' surveillance systems was scored for five years: 1995, 1997, 1999, 2001, and 2002. Sero-surveillance data were compiled from the US Census Bureau's HIV/AIDS Surveillance Database, the EuroHIV database, and from countries' national HIV surveillance reports that were available to WHO/UNAIDS. The quality of systems was scored according to the level of the countries' epidemic. RESULTS: There has been a large variation in the quality of HIV surveillance systems across the 132 countries by type of the epidemic and over time from 1995 to 2002. Over the 1995-2002 period the number of countries with a fully implemented system decreased from 57 (43%) in 1995 to 48 (36%) in 2002. The proportion of countries with a fully implemented system was 58%, 34%, and 10% in countries with a generalised, concentrated, and low level epidemic, respectively. In the 53 countries with generalised epidemics the number of countries with a fully implemented system increased from 24 (45%) in 2001 to 31 (58%) in 2002. CONCLUSION: Many countries still have poor functioning HIV surveillance systems and require urgent strengthening. Countries should monitor and evaluate their own HIV surveillance systems and examine whether the systems are appropriate and adequate.

Epidemiological analysis of the quality of HIV sero-surveillance in the world: how well do we track the epidemic?

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this paper was to analyse the quality of HIV/AIDS sentinel surveillance systems in countries and the resulting quality of the data used to make estimates of HIV/AIDS prevalence and mortality. METHODS: Available data on sero-surveillance of HIV/AIDS in countries were compiled in the process of making the end of 1999 estimates of HIV/AIDS. These data came primarily from the HIV/AIDS Surveillance Database developed by the United States Census Bureau, from a database maintained by the European Centre for the Epidemiological Monitoring of AIDS and all country reports on sentinel surveillance that had been provided to World Health Organization or UNAIDS. Procedures were developed to score quality of surveillance systems based on four dimensions of quality: timeliness and frequency; appropriateness of groups; consistency of sites over time; and coverage provided by the system. In total, the surveillance systems from 167 countries were analysed. RESULTS: Forty-seven of the 167 countries whose surveillance systems were rated were judged to have fully implemented sentinel surveillance systems; 51 were judged to have systems that had some or most aspects of a good HIV surveillance system in place and 69 were rated as having poorly functioning or non-existent surveillance systems. CONCLUSION: This analysis suggests that the quality of HIV surveillance varies considerably. The majority of countries most affected by HIV/AIDS have systems that are providing sufficient sero-prevalence data for tracking the epidemic and making reasonable estimates of HIV prevalence. However, many countries have poor systems and strengthening these is an urgent priority.

A new HTLV type II subtype A isolate in an HIV type 1-infected prostitute from Cameroon, Central Africa.

Among 332 female sex workers in Douala, Cameroon, 113 were HIV-1 seropositive, 3 were HTLV-I seropositive, and only 1 had specific anti-HTLV-II antibodies. By cocultivation with BJAB cells, an HTLV-II was isolated from the peripheral blood mononuclear cells of this 32-year-old woman coinfected by HIV-1. This new African HTLV-II isolate (PH230PCAM) belongs to the molecular subtype A, exhibiting, however, a nucleotide variability of 2.4% and 0.8%, vis-à-vis the MO prototype, in the LTR and in the gp21 env gene, respectively. These data, as well as the previous findings of another HTLV-II subtype A in a Ghanean prostitute, suggest that this viral subtype had been imported into Africa, while the HTLV-II subtype B, described in remote areas of Zaire, Gabon, and Cameroon, could be a genuine African HTLV-II, present in this continent for a long period of time.

[Short term projections of infection by the human immunodeficiency (HIV) and the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) in Cameroon]. / Projections à court terme de l'infection par le virus de l'immunodéficience humaine (VIH) et du syndrome d'immunodéficience acquise (SIDA) au Cameroun.

As of December 1991, Cameroon has reported 827 cases of AIDS. The results from the Sentinel Surveillance System show a seroprevalence of 1.3% HIV1 among pregnant women, 2.5% in people attending STD clinic and 3.5% in tuberculosis patients. The World Health Organization projection model was used to make a short term projection of HIV infection and AIDS cases. Results show that the number estimated of HIV infected populations varies between 24 to 45,000 people by the year 1995. Results show also an estimated 8,500 cumulative AIDS cases. Even in a low prevalence country as Cameroon the impact of the HIV epidemic is important and will result in a burden for the health care system.

Review of HIV prevalence studies in Cameroon; what next?

The number of HIV studies available in Cameroon are wide and varied. The analysis of the HIV seroprevalence data in Cameroon shows that HIV rates are increasing in the surveyed groups as well as in general population. Cameroon it can not be consider any more as HIV low prevalence country. Given the scarce resources and the variety of studies performed a point for reflexion is needed to conduct future epidemiological studies. Priorities need to be done; standard methods need to be established and integration within the health information system is advisable

A review of KABP studies on AIDS and HIV infection in Cameroon

The authors reviewed the studies on knowledge; attitudes; beliefs and practices regarding AIDS and HIV infection in Cameroon. Overall there is a clear increase on knowledge about AIDS among the different groups surveyed although misconceptions are still present which can lead to wrong attitudes towards infected people. The surveys undertaken to date have generally focused on knowledge and practices. More in depth qualitative data is necessary to understand sexual behavior. Behavior research should be linked to interventions to limit the increase of HIV infection

A short term projection of HIV infection and AIDS cases in Cameroon.

By September 1991 Cameroon had reported 650 cases of the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). The results from the sentinnel surveillance system showed a seroprevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)1 of 1.3% among pregnant women, 2.5% in people attending sexually transmitted disease clinics and 3.5% in tuberculosis patients in 1990. The estimated number of persons infected with HIV varies between 10,000 and 30,000. The World Health Organization projection model was used to make a short-term projection of HIV infection and AIDS cases; it indicated that the number of persons infected with HIV will double by the year 1995, with an estimated 8500 AIDS cases. Even in a low prevalence country such as Cameroon, the impact of the HIV epidemic is important and will result in a burden for the health care system.

A long term HIV/AIDS projections for Cameroon

Using the data provided by the HIV sentinel surveillance system; since 1989; the HIV prevalence rate among the population sexually active is estimated to vary between 0;8 pour cent and 0;2 pour cent. Taking as hypothesis that Cammeroon is in a preepidemic period; the authors make a long term projections using mathematicals models. Two scenarios are presented. A high scenario which projects the number of HIV infected people to be 220.000 thousand and 14.000 AIDS new cases by the year 2005. A low scenario which projects 140.000 infected persons and 10.000 new AIDS cases by the year 2005

L'experience de filles libres educatrices a Yaounde dans la prevention des MST et du SIDA

Dans le cadre du Programme National de Lutte contre le SIDA au Cameroun; l'utilisation des filles libres educatrices a ete une des strategies adoptees ciblant les groupes a haut risque. Des resultats preliminaires ont ete presentes ailleurs et ont montre son positif impact. Afin d'evaluer cette strategie; une enquete de connaissances; attitudes; croyances et pratiques (ACP) aupres des filles qui pratiquaient la prostitution a Yaounde a ete faite. Cette enquete a eu pour but non seulement de faire le point sur les differentes actions educatrices menees aupres de ce groupe mais aussi de mettre sur pied des methodes d'education plus efficaces

Profil de l'epidemie VIH/SIDA au Cameroun

Les auteurs font le point des resultats du systeme de surveillance sentinelle de l'infection a VIH et du SIDA mis en place au Cameroun depuis 1989. Au 31 decembre 1991; le total cumule des cas declares s'eleve a 763 pour un nombre de cas attendus de 300. Le taux de prevalence de l'infection a VIH1 est d'environ 1;5 pour cent dans la population generale adulte en milieu urbain. La situation en zone rurale demande a etre mieux precisee