HIV Sentinel Surveillance in Thailand — An Example for Developing Countries

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Abstract
The intent of the HIV sentinel surveillance program in Thailand, as in other countries, is to provide early warning of pending epidemics so that public health of ficials can intensify prevention and control activities to protect their communities. While the intention is clear, questions remain as to how sentinel groups should be selected and if they predict future HIV occurrence. Every six months, serum is collected in Thailand from a sample of six sentinel groups in all provinces of Thailand for determining the prevalence of HIV infection. Among the sentinel groups, the HIV epidemic is rapidly increasing in female sex-workers, males at STD clinics, and females at antenatal clinics, increasing less rapidly among blood donors, and remaining high among IV drug addicts. Two sentinel groups were found to be useful for predicting the future spread of the epidemic to women attending clinics: lower-class female sex-workers and males attending STD clinics.