[Study of the under-reporting of AIDS cases in Alagoas (Brazil), 1999-2005]

The under-reporting of Aids (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) cases makes it difficult and even impossible to plan means to control the epidemic. This study aims to check out the under-reporting of Aids cases from 1999 to 2005 in Alagoas (Brazil). The deaths certificates causes by Aids stored at the Mortality Data System (SIM) in comparison to the Data System of Notification Diseases (Sinan), has been analyzed using the technique of relationship between these two data systems in Alagoas. According to the study, the proportion of under-reporting of Aids cases during this period was of 12.4%. Among the 49 deaths studied, 67% (33) were men and 33% (16) were women configuring a gender rate of 2:1. As to education level, 4,08% (2) and 6,12% (3) of the deaths by Aids were of people having 1 to 3 and from 4 to 7 years of study, respectively. The age group that presented the largest number of deaths was from 20 to 49 years old, either female (11; 68,7%) or male gender (23; 69,6%). The comparison between the Mortality Data System and Data System for Disease Notification revealed a high proportion of under-reporting of deaths by Aids, stressing the need for a specific public policy on the matter.