Epidemiology of HIV infections. Design options with special reference to developing countries

Health research and planning need valid data for decision making. In a developing country cost-effectiveness in research design is of special significance. In such situations, population-based data are needed. This paper reviews the literature on HIV/AIDS studies published during 1982-88 with respect to epidemiological methods and study designs and with special relevance to developing countries. A methodological taxonomy is presented based on this review illustrating the special need for analytic epidemiology. The paper also presents experiences and results from an ongoing collaborative project on HIV infections between Tanzanian and Swedish researchers. The project, which was launched in 1987 in the Kagera region where the first AIDS cases were seen in 1983, applies both epidemiological and behavioural methods.