Behavioural Surveillance Surveys - The Wisdom of Whores

3
Choosing
population groups
Population-based household surveys are especially good
at assessing trends in relatively common behaviors, and in investigating
the extent of sexual networking between people with different levels
of risk behavior. For example, what proportion of men in the general
population regularly have sex with sex workers ? To investigate the
particular behaviors of clients of sex workers or of sex workers
themselves, however, a more focused survey is needed. BSS is particularly
useful for conducting these kinds of focused surveys.
Ultimately, the choice of respondent groups
should be determined by two things:
• the state of the HIV epidemic in a country
• the prevention efforts that are either
underway or planned
Choosing respondent groups according to the
state of the HIV epidemic
In countries or regions where HIV has
spread into the general population, the
behaviors of greatest interest are those of the
majority. Household surveys of risk behavior
in the general population are therefore
recommended. Where HIV has already
reached very high levels among men and
women in the general population, establishing
safe behaviors among young people may be
the only way of creating a fire-break around
B EHAV I OR A L S U R V EI L L A NC E SURV EY S CHAPTER 3
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