Linkage of HIV data with Statbel socio-demographic and socio-economic information

Description

The epidemiological surveillance of HIV in Belgium is based on several data collections carried out by Sciensano. National data are collected from the HIV reference centres (HRCs) and AIDS reference laboratories (ARLs): a) National data collection of all HIV diagnosed patients in Belgium; b) National data collection of all HIV patients in care, through an exhaustive data collection of all viral load measures performed in Belgium and a data collection of demographic, biological, immunological, treatment and death data of patients in care in the HRCs (around 80 % of all patients in care in Belgium); c) A laboratory data collection on viro-immunological follow-up of all new-borns from HIV positive mothers; d) A national data collection of post-exposure prophylaxis episodes. Since the beginning of the HIV epidemic, this surveillance enables the monitoring of the trends in number of people diagnosed with HIV and number of patients in medical follow-up, as well as to identify certain socio-demographic factors associated with the risk of HIV infection or of a pejorative clinical outcome. This information supports health authorities and HIV stakeholders to decide on evidence-based HIV prevention and care strategies and define target groups for tailored interventions. Statbel, the Belgian statistical office collects, produces and disseminates reliable and relevant figures on the Belgian economy, society and territory. The collection is based on administrative data sources and surveys. This project aims to link the HIV surveillance data with selected Statbel information. This will permit to greatly improve the quality of the HIV surveillance data by completing the data already collected by Sciensano with additional socio-economic and socio-demographic information on patients profiles, filling in missing data in the Sciensano database with demographics from Statbel, ascertaining vital status of lost-to-follow-up patients and completing the information on causes of death. Additionally, a linkage with the new-born registry would permit to have more demographic and clinical information on children born from HIV-positive women.

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  • ea67baf9-c74a-52ef-885c-dc855fb3864a
  • hdbp0249

Topics

  • HEAL

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