MARCH 2006 — This guide is part of a series of technical resources that started with the guidelines for second generation HIV surveillance published by UNAIDS and WHO in 2000. It addresses specific technical issues related to strengthening surveillance systems.

This publication provides an overview of pre-surveillance assessment to address the questions needed to plan for surveillance, while considering local variation and the constantly changing nature of HIV epidemics. The publication focuses on periodic HIV serosurveys, sexually transmitted infection (STI) surveys and behavioural surveys. A pre-surveillance assessment is needed for initial and subsequent rounds of HIV surveillance to identify and address data gaps. The purpose of the surveillance system must be clear to everyone to help ensure that its output will meet the expectations of those involved in its implementation.