Visit fhi.org in: Español | Français | Russian | Arabic
 Search fhi.org:
 
 
Globe

Topics

Surveillance

Email this to a friend
Read this page in:
Español  | Français

Behavioral Surveillance Surveys (BSS) are a monitoring and evaluation methodology designed to track trends in HIV/AIDS knowledge, attitudes and risk behavior in selected segments of a country or community's population.

When used in conjunction with qualitative research and monitoring of process data—such as the number of people educated or condoms distributed—the BSS methodology is a powerful tool for HIV/AIDS prevention programs.   

BSS enable program managers to plan and implement interventions that respond to trends in risk behavior and to evaluate the interventions' intermediate outcomes.  

BSS also are useful because they:
 
  • Function as an early warning system, alerting policy makers and program managers to emerging risks or changes in existing risk behavior.

  • Reveal gaps in knowledge and understanding of HIV/AIDS that interventions can address.

  • Help identify population segments whose behavior makes them particularly vulnerable to HIV infection.

  • Provide data on specific target groups that complement information from general population surveys.

  • Ensure comparability and a degree of standardization often lacking when data are collected by a variety of different agencies.

Selected FHI publications

Behavioral Surveillance Surveys (BSS):  Guidelines for Repeated Behavioral Surveys in Populations at Risk for HIV (available in English, French, and Spanish)

Behavioral Surveillance Survey: Ethiopia 2002 

Behavioral Surveillance Survey: Lesotho 2002

Behavioral Surveillance Survey: Nigeria 2000

A series of BSS Executive Summaries present findings from a number of BSS in selected countries.  See specific country pages on the FHI Website, or do a keyword search using BSS and the specific country or population you are interested in.