Results of the Expanded HIV Risk Factor Assessment Project (EHRAP)

An objective of EHRAP was to evaluate the HIV risk factor information reported to CDC through routine surveillance. HIV/AIDS surveillance programmes used medical and ancillary records to determine if information on HIV risk factors can be found for surveillance. Surveillance staff from Mississippi, South Carolina, and Virginia collected data on risk factors for HIV infection on a sample of cases diagnosed during 1998 and 1999. Overall percent agreement and Cohen kappa statistics were calculated for initially reported compared to EHRAP-identified risk factors. Of 160 cases reported without an identified risk factor, 86% were reclassified with a known risk factor. A risk factor was identified for 96% of all cases of HIV infection. Overall, agreement was good (kappa = 0.89) between initially reported and verified HIV risk factor. All three states met the national goal of at least 85% of reported cases with a risk factor for HIV infection. The completeness of collection and reporting of HIV risk factors for national HIV/AIDS surveillance can be improved. The current method of risk factor redistribution at the national level should be evaluated.