A retrospective death certificate study of AIDS and AIDS-related conditions in Ohio: 1984-1986.

AIDS surveillance data are used routinely to define the magnitude of the epidemic, project future case numbers, delineate risk behaviors, and to assist in health planning and resource allocation. The purposes of this study are: (1) to evaluate the effectiveness of the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) AIDS Surveillance System in Ohio from 1984 through 1986 and (2) to identify additional cases which may have been overlooked through normal case identification procedures. A review of all deaths occurring in Ohio among males between the ages 20 and 50 was conducted for several diseases and conditions commonly associated with AIDS.