Status of HIV Case-Based Surveillance Implementation — 39 U.S. PEPFAR-Supported Countries, May–July 2019
Authors: Joshua R. Holmes, Thu-Ha Dinh, Nasim Farach, Eric-Jan Manders, James Kariuki, Daniel H. Rosen, Andrea A. Kim, Alean Frawley, Patrick Tema, Kristen L. Hess, Khuteletso Bagapi, Penh Sun Ly, Vanthy Ly, Rachel Albalak, Varough Deyde, Tyson Volkmann, Martine Chase, Rhonda A. Moore, Sasha E. Walrond, Avery Hinds, Keven Antoine, Nicola Skyers, Jose Manuel Rodas, Sandra I. Juarez, Tomasa Sierra Pineda, José Salvador Sorto, Maria Mastelari, Manuel Sagastume, Ingrid Castillo, Luz Maria Romero, Enrique Beteta, Aka-Camara Aoua, G. Laissa Ouedraogo, Legre Roger Lobognon, Rinaldy Capellán, Luis Bonilla, Jacob Dee, Rogers Galaxy Ngalamulume, Denis Yoka Ebengo, Caroline Ryan, Munyaradzi Pasipamire, Beyene Moges, Frehywot Eshetu, Ayalew A. Haile, Silas Quaye, Valerie Pelletier, Joelle Deas Van Onacker, Timbila Jean Baptiste Koama, Leonard Kingwara, Faith N. Ngari, Catherine Ngugi, Anthony Waruru, Joseph L. Barker, Margaret Ndisha, Peter Young, Phouthone Southalack, Bouathong Simanovong, Douangchanh Xaymounvong, Martha Conkling, Refiloe Mpholo, Tigest Mekonnen, Linda Mattocks, Evelyn Kim, Subrat Das, Mamadou B. Traore, Sory Traore, Kristen Heitzinger, Maria Rein, Peter Kerndt, Adam Wolkon, Michael de Klerk, Nicholus Mutenda, Charles Nzelu, Ibrahim Dalhatu, Stacie Greby, Ibrahim Jahun, Mukhtar Ahmed, Victor Sebastian, Ademola Oladipo, Matthias Alagi, Moyosola Bamidele, Mustapha Bello, Henry Debem, Raphael Akpan, Aminu Yakubu, Ayodele Fagbemi, Nguhemen Tiger, Ifunanya Mgbakor, Ibrahim Dangana, Abel Yamba, Poruan Temu, Peniel Boas, Gene MacDonald, Janise Richards, Placidie Mugwaneza, Mboup Souleymane, Astou Guèye Gaye, Safiatou Thiam, Moussa Sarr, Mireille Cheyip, Zukiswa Edna Pinini, Sarah Porter, Shirley Nkone, Richard Lino Loro Lako, Moses Mutebi Nganda, Sudhir Bunga, Alex Bolo, George S. Mgomella, Jeremiah Mushi, Zaharani Kalungwa, Suvimon Tanpradech, Kunjanakorn Phokhasawad, Thitipong Yingyong, Herbert Kiyingi, Muramuzi Bangizi Emmy, Edgar Kansiime, Musenge Kenneth, Roksolana Kulchynska, Ihor Kuzin, Nataliya Podolchak, Ezra J. Barzilay, Violetta Martsynovska, Abu S. Abdul-Quader, Vo Hai Son, Nguyen Tuan Anh, Suilanjo Sivile, Andrew Banda, Stanley Kamocha, Elizabeth Gonese, Brian Kumbirai Moyo, Kelsey Mirkovic
Journal: MMWR Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (2019)

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) case-based surveillance (CBS) systematically and continuously collects available demographic and health event data (sentinel events*) about persons with HIV infection from diagnosis and, if available, throughout routine clinical care until death, to characterize HIV epidemics and guide program improvement (1,2). Surveillance signals such as high viral load, mortality, or recent HIV infection can be used for rapid public health action. To date, few standardized assessments have been conducted to describe HIV CBS systems globally (3,4). For this assessment, a survey was disseminated during May-July 2019 to all U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR)-supported countries with CDC presence† (46) to describe CBS implementation and identify facilitators and barriers. Among the 39 (85%) countries that responded,§ 20 (51%) have implemented CBS, 15 (38%) were planning implementation, and four (10%)¶ had no plans for implementation. All countries with CBS reported capturing information at the point of diagnosis, and 85% captured sentinel event data. The most common characteristic (75% of implementation countries) that facilitated implementation was using a health information system for CBS. Barriers to CBS implementation included lack of country policies/guidance on mandated reporting of HIV and on CBS, lack of unique identifiers to match and deduplicate patient-level data, and lack of data security standards. Although most surveyed countries reported implementing or planning for implementation of CBS, these barriers need to be addressed to implement effective HIV CBS that can inform the national response to the HIV epidemic.