HIV/AIDS surveillance in Egypt: current status and future challenges

Abstract

By international standards, HIV/AIDS prevalence is low in Egypt (< 0.1%). However, questions about the accuracy of this figure are coupled with fears of an imminent increase in prevalence, with evidence suggesting that, despite Egypt's conservative culture, high-risk behaviour is more widespread than commonly reported and the country's changing socioeconomic context is perpetuating this trend. Through an analysis of the current HIV/AIDS surveillance system in Egypt, this paper explores some of the unique challenges this country faces in dealing with the HIV/AIDS epidemic. It concludes that constraints, such as Egypt's cultural norms and laws, the population's lack of knowledge about HIV/AIDS and the bureaucratic health system, hinder the development and implementation of effective surveillance systems.