HIV Bio-behavioural surveys and key population size estimation, 1-5 February 2027

Description

Reliable and timely available HIV data are essential for tracking of the epidemic, program management and program evaluation activities.
The aim of the course is to provide participants with practical guidance on how to design bio-behavioural surveys based on probabilistic sampling (respondent-driven sampling and time-location sampling) and recently recommended program-based survey method called BBS –Lite. The course will also outline population size estimation (PSE) methods, which can be used along with BBS or conducted separately.
As recommended by UNAIDS and WHO, simplified bio-behavioural survey (BBS-Lite) does not replace BBS based on probabilistic sampling but rather supplements BBS. This method is less demanding in terms of implementation and data analysis, less costly than BBS and enables more timely data availability. It is recommended that this method is implemented more routinely, in-between rounds of BBS based on probabilistic methods.

Presentations and exercises during the course will address a number of issues relevant for the appropriate design and implementation of BBS, such as selection of geographical areas, recruitment techniques, field team composition and testing for infections. Approaches to data analysis and interpretation will be also outlined.
The second part of the course will address PSE methods and PSE data synthesis and extrapolation.
As part of presentations, case studies based on field experiences in conducting BBS and PSE studies will be presented.

Key topics of the course are:
• Sampling frame in RDS, TLS and BBS-Lite and selection of recruitment sites
• Recruitment strategies in BBS
• Questionnaire development and biomarker data collection
• Data quality challenges and data interpretation in studies based on RDS, TLS and BBS-Lite
• Use of survey data to assess service delivery gaps and HIV prevention needs
• PSE methods – programmatic and virtual mapping and the multiplier method
• Interpreting diverging results of the size estimates studies
• Using data for national size estimations
• Calculating indicators of coverage with HIV prevention based on the size estimation data

Participants will be given opportunities to share their own country-specific experiences and challenges in implementing surveys in KPs and using data.

The key part of the course is a group/individual work on development of protocols/ proposals
for a BBS or a PSE study, which participants can later on use in their work in the countries on the design and implementation of these studies. Participants will present the results of this work on the final day of the course.

Teaching Methods
The course consists of lectures, presentation of case studies, active discussions, exercises and group work. The course is designed to provide participants with practical skills and knowledge on how to design surveillance surveys and more effectively use data.

Target Audience
Epidemiologists, public health professionals, social scientists

Workshop venue

The workshop will be held at the School of Public Health, Rockefeller str. no 4, Zagreb, Croatia.