Methods for HIV surveillance in Vietnam

According to Circular 07/2023/TT-BYT, HIV surveillance means collection of data on HIV/AIDS epidemiological indicators of groups of  people who are at different risks of getting HIV/AIDS to detect cases of confirmed HIV infection.

(Currently in Clause 1, Article 2 of Circular 09/2012/TT-BYT, it stipulates:

HIV surveillance is the collection of information related to HIV-positive subjects, AIDS patients and HIV-infected people who have died to provide information for planning, prevention, care and treatment of people living with HIV).

Methods for HIV surveillance in Vietnam

According to Circular 07/2023/TT-BYT, methods for HIV surveillance include:

- Counselling before and after HIV testing;

- HIV testing;

- Collection, consolidation of and report on epidemiological indicators of HIV/AIDS.

Priority subjects of HIV surveillance in Vietnam

Also according to Circular 07/2023/TT-BYT, priority subjects of HIV surveillance include:

- Drug users;

- Prostitutes;

- Homosexual active people;

- Transgender people;

- Spouses and other family members living together with HIV-positve people; spouses of the following subjects: drug users; prostitutes; homosexual active people; transgender people;

- Sex partners of HIV-positive people;

- People infected with STDs;

- Frequent travelers;

- Tuberculosis patients;

- People having clinical symptoms of HIV/AIDS infection;

- Prisoners, persons held in detention, and persons held in custody at reform schools, compulsory education institutions or rehabilitation centers;

- Other subjects.

(Currently, Circular 09/2012/TT-BYT stipulates that HIV detection monitoring subjects include: HIV-tested persons; AIDS patients; HIV-infected people who die).

Circular 07/2023/TT-BYT takes effect from June 1, 2023 and replaces Circular 09/2012/TT-BYT.

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