The role of formative research in the National HIV Behavioral Surveillance System.
The National Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Behavioral Surveillance System (NHBS) is the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC's) newest system for measuring HIV risk behaviors among three adult populations at highest risk for HIV infection in the U.S.: men who have sex with men, injecting drug users, and heterosexuals at risk of HIV infection. The system is implemented by state and local health departments in designated metropolitan statistical areas with the highest HIV/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) prevalence in the U.S. Prior to implementing the behavioral surveillance survey, project sites conduct a series of formative research activities. The data collected during this preparatory phase provide contextual information about HIV risk behaviors within the study population of interest and help project sites make decisions about field operations and other logistical issues. This article describes the activities undertaken in preparation for the first round of NHBS (2003-2007) and how those activities enhanced data collection for each behavioral surveillance cycle.
Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30341, USA. drothallen@cdc.gov
Denise Roth
DR
Allen
Teresa
T
Finlayson
Abu
A
Abdul-Quader
Amy
A
Lansky
D040343:Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System; D003625:Data Collection / Q000379:methods; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D012107:Research Design; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology