Comparing HIV Prevalence Estimates in Sub-Saharan Africa
Author Information
Author(s): Montana L S, Mishra V, Hong R
Primary Institution: Harvard University
Hypothesis
How do HIV prevalence estimates from antenatal care surveillance compare to those from population-based surveys in sub-Saharan Africa?
Conclusion
Antenatal care surveillance surveys tend to overestimate HIV prevalence compared to population-based surveys.
Supporting Evidence
- In four of the five countries, national DHS/AIS estimates of HIV prevalence were lower than the ANC surveillance estimates.
- DHS/AIS estimates for men residing in the catchment areas of ANC sites were much lower than ANC surveillance estimates for women.
- Urban prevalence was higher than rural prevalence in all cases.
Takeaway
This study looks at how accurate HIV estimates are from pregnant women compared to the general population, finding that estimates from pregnant women are often higher.
Methodology
The study used geographical information system methods to compare HIV prevalence estimates from antenatal care surveillance and demographic health surveys.
Potential Biases
Potential biases include the selection of ANC sites and the random displacement of GPS coordinates for confidentiality.
Limitations
The study assumes a 15 km radius is a reasonable catchment area for ANC care, which may not reflect actual distances women travel.
Participant Demographics
The study involved women and men aged 15-49 from five sub-Saharan African countries.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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