Systematic behavioral surveys recommended for next generation of HIV surveillance.

This article discusses the appropriateness of systematic behavior surveys in the surveillance of HIV. The UN Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and Family Health International have developed standardized guidelines of behavioral data collection that will help national AIDS programs to gain better understanding of HIV/AIDS epidemics. These systematic, cross-sectional behavioral surveys are done annually or biannually among high-risk countries. Traditional household surveys were conducted to gather information used to determine the target groups. Mapping, sampling strategies, testing, and questionnaires were then designed for the target groups. Data collection revealed that significant changes in the HIV risk behaviors of individuals from different countries. This survey finding reflects the value of these behavioral surveys as a flexible diagnostic tool for HIV.