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Surveillance

The HIV/AIDS surveillance system exists to collect and maintain, in a confidential and secure manner, the epidemiological data needed to monitor the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Maryland.

The goals of the HIV/AIDS surveillance system are to collect information to describe the:

• modes of exposure and the population at risk for HIV infection
• incidence and prevalence of HIV infection in the population
• incidence and prevalence of AIDS in the population
• use of health services and occurrence of illness in persons with HIV infection
• occurrence of deaths among persons with HIV infection and AIDS

To meet these goals, an integrated HIV/AIDS surveillance system has been established with linkages to other communicable disease programs in the state health department, local health departments, laboratories, health care facilities and private clinics where care for patients with HIV/AIDS is provided.

How We Collect Surveillance Data

The Maryland AIDS Administration receives reports of HIV and AIDS cases from a number of sources throughout the state. These reports include health care provider morbidity reports, laboratory reports, hospital discharge summaries, death certificates, reports from Medicaid, and reports from other communicable disease programs. Field surveillance investigators collect diagnostic, clinical, social, and demographic data on all reported cases of HIV/AIDS.

The HIV/AIDS surveillance system in Maryland is decentralized with 24 local health departments throughout the state involved in HIV/AIDS reporting, all coordinated by the Maryland AIDS Administration. A large field office at the Baltimore City Department of Health collects and reports case data for Baltimore City. Surveillance activities in the remaining 23 jurisdictions are the responsibility of field staff of the Maryland AIDS Administration working with the HIV/AIDS designees in local health departments. The Maryland AIDS Administration also maintains surveillance field offices at the Dorchester, Montgomery, and Prince Georges counties health departments.

Uses of Surveillance Data

Information collected through the surveillance system is used by the state and local health departments and by organizations serving the community to:

• plan prevention activities and allocate funds for prevention programs
• plan health services activities and allocate funds for services programs
• evaluate the effectiveness of prevention activities
• evaluate the impact of health services activities on the epidemic