Sentinel surveillance for HIV-1 among pregnant women in a developing country

Economic hardship and sexually transmitted diseases in Haiti's rural Artibonite Valley.

“…Several reports from other developing countries comparing STD prevalence rates in sentinel groups and the general adult population have validated this approach. [16][17][18] The STD prevalence rate found in the rural Artibonite Valley is surprisingly close to the STD prevalence rate found in pregnant women in Cite Soleil, an urban slum of Port au Prince. 19 The prevalence rate of cervical infection was 12% in both areas; the prevalence rate of syphilis was 7% in rural Haiti versus 11% in urban Haiti.…”

High HIV Prevalence and Associated Factors in a Remote Community in the Rwenzori Region of Western Uganda

“…The same age pattern differences have been reported previously and were attributed to poor representation and self-selection of ANC/PMTCT clients. [47][48][49] Although anonymous ANC HIV sero-surveillance has been previously used to monitor HIV sero-prevalence in the general population, [50][51][52][53] integrated ANC/PMTCT re-enforces selection bias as some mothers are likely to stay away for fear of being tested for HIV, thus making ANC/PMTCT data unsuitable for monitoring HIV prevalence in the general population. Previous studies have established that those refusing to test are often at a higher risk of HIV infection than those who consent.…”

Dried blood spots as a practical and inexpensive source for human immunodeficiency virus and hepatitis C virus surveillance

“…An isolated prevalence study will reveal HIV status in that population at a single moment, but the evaluation of serial prevalence studies can indicate the epidemics trend (WHO 1992). This strategy is known as sentinel surveillance and can be applied to different population settings [such as in-hospital Matuszak et al 1990, McLaws et al 1990, Pappaioanou et al 1990, Gwinn et al 1991, Tappin et al 1991, Kigadye et al 1993, Alary et al 1994, Canosa et al 1997, Siedler et al 1998, Amar et al 1999.…”