[Epidemiologic surveillance of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome in 6 states of Central Africa].

Since 1985, OCEAC, the organization for control of widespread endemic disease in Central Africa, has managed an epidemiological surveillance programme concerning HIV infection and AIDS in six countries of the Sub-Region: Cameroon, Tchad, Central African Republic, Congo, Equatorial Guinea and Gabon. This programme consists in evaluating longitudinally incidence rates of infection and clinical cases, and mortality rates. It is based on a selective strategy using a network of sentinels (hospitals and maternity care consultation centers), completed by cross sectional epidemiological studies. Thanks to this programme high risk groups of population, high risk places and high risk activities have been identified. These observations will be used to plan national prevention programmes on AIDS.