The integrated epidemiologic profile: using multiple data sources in developing profiles to inform HIV prevention and care planning.

HIV/AIDS epidemiologic profiles describe the HIV/AIDS epidemic among state and local populations. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Health Resources Services Administration collaborated to develop one set of guidelines for developing epidemiologic profiles that would serve as the basis for both prevention and care planning. The Integrated Guidelines for Developing Epidemiologic Profiles was published in 2003. Profiles based on these guidelines describe the epidemic in terms of sociodemographic, geographic, behavioral, and clinical characteristics and should include enough data sources (e.g., sexually transmitted disease, tuberculosis, behavioral, and care-related data) to allow users to make informed, evidenced-based decisions. Development and use of these epidemiologic profiles should lead to more effective prevention and care planning and contribute to objective measures of the impact and outcomes of programs, supported by both federal agencies.