Abstract
UNAIDS proposed a set of core indicators for monitoring changes in the worldwide AIDS epidemic. This paper explores the validity and effectiveness of the ‘multiple sexual partners’ core indicator, which is only partially captured with current available data. The paper also suggests an innovative approach for collecting more informative data that can be used to provide an accurate measure of the UNAIDS's ‘multiple sexual partners’ core indicator. Specifically, the paper addresses three major limitations associated with the indicator when it is measured with respondents’ sexual behaviors. First, the indicator assumes that a person's risk of contracting HIV/AIDS/STIs is merely a function of his/her own sexual behavior. Second, the indicator does not account for a partner's sexual history, which is very important in assessing an individual's risk level. Finally, the 12-month period used to define a person's risks can be misleading, especially because HIV/AIDS theoretically has a period of latency longer than a year. The paper concludes that, programmatically, improvements in data collection are a top priority for reducing the observed bias in the ‘multiple sexual partners’ core indicator.
Highlights
This study explores the limitations of current measures of multiple sexual partnerships with a sharp focus on measurement and data collection, and it discusses the potential biases
Some progress has been made regarding monitoring the pandemic, it is worthy to question the effectiveness of HIV/AIDS interventions and programs
Through the sexual networks approach, this paper advocates a major shift in HIV/AIDS data collection in order to gather more appropriate data that would provide reliable HIV/AIDS indicators for protecting people in SSA and around the world
Summary
UNAIDS ‘multiple sexual partners’ core indicator: promoting sexual networks to reduce potential biases. Which segments of the population are at a higher risk of HIV/AIDS/STIs. The length of the relationship: another key factor of mismeasurement of UNAIDS ‘‘multiple sexual partners’’ core indicator In addition to ignoring the partner’s sexual behavior, RSB indicators are often based on a very short period of time (e.g. 12 months). The implementation of network studies in an HDSS that allows classifying people based on more detailed RSB can deepen our understanding about one’s risk of contracting HIV/ AIDS/STIs. The implementation of network studies in an HDSS that allows classifying people based on more detailed RSB can deepen our understanding about one’s risk of contracting HIV/ AIDS/STIs This approach provides a more accurate measurement of the ‘multiple sexual partners’ core indicator using a sexual partner’s history module to collect information about the individuals with whom the respondent had sexual intercourse since the last data collection.
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