Inventory of HIV Incidence and Prevalence Studies in Canada

Inventory of HIV Incidence and Prevalence Studies in Canada May 2004 151 pages (1430 KB) Surveillance and Risk Assessment Division (SRAD) Centre for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control Public Health Agency of Canada

May 1, 2004

Letter of introduction to recipients of the "Inventory of HIV Incidence and Prevalence Studies in Canada"

The Surveillance and Risk Assessment Division of the Centre for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Health Canada, has prepared this inventory in collaboration with HIV researchers across Canada. Data are updated annually based on published reports, reports to research funding agencies, personal communications, and material that researchers have sent directly to the Division. In addition, principal investigators are consulted regarding summaries of their studies and related references.

In addition to this Inventory, the Division has also produced a series of Epi Updates that provide a synthesis of HIV/AIDS epidemiology and risk behaviour information for specific population groups (see Appendix B for the list of titles). The Epi Updates can be obtained from the Division and from the website .

If you have any further comments or questions regarding the inventory, please contact Stephen Cule at 613-957-1813.

I hope you find this inventory useful.

Yours sincerely,

Dr. Chris Archibald
Director

Table of Contents

Introduction

Format

Glossary

1. Studies in General Population

1. Sentinel hospital patients
2. Voluntary testing
3. Young adults
4. Heterosexual populations
5. Blood donors

2. Studies in Women

1. Antenatal/newborn
2. Women undergoing abortion

3. Studies in Ethnic Populations

4. Studies in Aboriginal People

5. Studies in Blood / Blood Product Recipients & Hemophiliacs

1. Blood / blood product recipients
2. Hemophiliacs

6. Studies in Populations with High Risk Behaviours

1. Men who have sex with men
2. Men who have sex with men/injection drug users
3. Injection drug users
4. STD clientele
5. Inmates
6. Street people
7. Sex trade workers

Appendices

• Appendix A: References
• Appendix B: List of Titles of Epi Updates
• Appendix C: Staff of the HIV/AIDS Epidemiology Section of the Surveillance and Risk Assessment Division

Introduction

The purpose of the inventory is to present studies in a manner that allows for easy comparison and to encourage and facilitate a more timely sharing of information. All of the studies included in this inventory are Canadian. To be included, studies had to meet certain inclusion criteria. First, the study had to be conducted in Canada. Second, all studies had to contain HIV prevalence or incidence data. And third, there had to be information about sampling method and data analysis.

Of the studies done in Canada to date, 121 have met the criteria for inclusion. There may be others, but these have yet to be located/published. Entries in the inventory are based on published reports or updates and have been checked with the respective principal investigator(s).

Many studies utilized unlinked, anonymous methodology under the following conditions:

1. The specimens used were collected for reasons other than the HIV testing. Only routinely collected information, unlinked from personal identifiers, was recorded.
2. Data were not analysed or reported for small populations if identification of individuals was a possibility.
3. Studies were only carried out where voluntary testing was available.
4. The population tested was informed of the research.

Other studies have used confidential, coded or linked methodologies as well as chart reviews and supplementary questionnaires in order to collect more detailed information. Studies done more recently use new laboratory technologies (such as the detuned assay) to estimate HIV incidence among prevalent HIV-positive sample.

Certain studies used cohorts that were drawn from a larger at-risk population in order to study incidence trends over time. These studies frequently list prevalence at enrollment (baseline prevalence) and cumulative incidence along with incidence rate data as part of their results. However, since the cohort study is an attempt to assess incidence trends in at-risk seronegative populations over time, prevalence at enrollment may not be reflective of the prevalence rate in the at-risk population overall. If this is the case, prevalence at enrollment can only be taken as reflective of those individuals who are unaware of their serostatus or believe themselves to be HIV-negative at entry into the cohort.

For more information, please refer to the Guidelines on ethical and legal considerations in anonymous unlinked HIV seroprevalence research prepared by the Federal Centre for AIDS Working Group on Anonymous Unlinked HIV Seroprevalence. Can Med Assoc J 1990;143:625-7 and Can Med Assoc J 1992;146:1743-4.

Inventory of HIV Incidence and Prevalence Studies in Canada May 2004 151 pages (1430 KB) Surveillance and Risk Assessment Division (SRAD) Centre for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control Public Health Agency of Canada