14. September 2009
ECDC publishes report on HIV and STI behavioural surveillance in Europe
Download the Report here
An inventory of what has been done by EU and EFTA countries regarding behavioural surveillance related to HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STI) in eight subpopulations has been published by ECDC. The report is based on a survey conducted in EU/EFTA countries and results show impressive experience and considerable diversity in Europe, with 16 countries reporting having an established HIV/STI behavioural surveillance system.
The most surveyed populations are the general population and youth, men who have sex with men and injecting drug users. Behavioural surveillance among sex workers and their clients, migrants and ethnic minorities, people living with HIV/AIDS and STI clinic patients is done in a few countries. It is suggested that the process on harmonisation of indicators should be continued to obtain more comparable results across countries and across subpopulations. It is further suggested that formalisation of a behavioural surveillance system at country level should be encouraged; this implies improving coordination between surveys and establishing links with the biological surveillance systems.
On 7–8 September, ECDC hosted a meeting with Member States and the experts involved in this project to present the report, disseminate the results and discuss the next steps towards a better surveillance in this area.
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Mapping_of_HIV_STI_Behavioural_Surveillance_in_Europe.pdf