The Development and the Assessment of Sampling Methods for Hard-to-Reach Populations in HIV Surveillance

Area of Science:

• Epidemiology
• Public Health
• Biostatistics

Background:

• Accurate HIV burden estimation is hindered by difficulties in reaching high-risk populations due to stigma and legal issues.
• Effective sampling methods are crucial for HIV surveillance among hard-to-reach populations (HTRPs) since the 1981 AIDS epidemic.
• Various sampling techniques have been developed and employed for HTRPs in HIV surveillance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the development and assessment of sampling methods for HTRPs in HIV surveillance.
• To evaluate the validity and reproducibility of approximately eight sampling methods.
• To focus on respondent-driven sampling (RDS) and its current standing in HTRP sampling.

Main Methods:

• Review and description of approximately eight sampling methods used for HTRPs.
• Focus on the assessment (validity and reproducibility) of these methods.
• Specific emphasis on respondent-driven sampling (RDS) within the context of HIV surveillance.

Main Results:

• Respondent-driven sampling (RDS) has undergone more extensive assessment compared to other methods.
• Current evidence is insufficient to establish RDS as the optimal method for sampling HTRPs.
• The validity and reproducibility of various sampling methods for HTRPs require further investigation.

Conclusions:

• Continued assessment of respondent-driven sampling (RDS) is necessary.
• Development of novel sampling approaches or modifications to existing methods is essential for improving HTRP sampling in HIV surveillance.
• Enhanced sampling strategies are needed to accurately estimate HIV burden in hard-to-reach populations.