INTRODUCTION

 

The HIV epidemic in Bangladesh, from an epidemiological perspective, is evolving rapidly.  While still a low prevalence country for overall HIV rates, but subsequent surveillances showed that in central Dhaka HIV prevelance among Injecting Drug Users (IDUs) rose from 1.4% to 7% (upto 10.8% in a particular locality) during last four years.   Simultaneously recent Behavioral Surveillance Survey (BSS) data indicate an increase in risk behaviors such as sharing of injecting equipment and a decline in consistent condom use in sexual encounters between IDUs and female sex workers. BSS data also indicate that the IDU population is well integrated into the surrounding urban community, socially and sexually, thus raising grave concern about the spread of HIV infection.

 

Over the rounds, the total HIV prevalence remained below 1% .

 

HIV prevalence over the rounds

 

Surveillance rounds	Numbers tested	HIV (%)
1st round (1998-1999)	3886	<1% (0.4)
2nd round (1999-2000)	4634	<1% (0.2)
3rd round (2000-2001)	7063	<1% (0.2)
4th round (2002)	7877	<1% (0.3)
5th round (2003-2004)	10445	<1% (0.3)
6th round (2004-2005)	11029	<1% (0.6)
7th round (2005-2006)	10368	<1% (0.9)

 

Bangladesh is a low prevalence nation for HIV and therefore, according to the guidelines of the Second Generation Surveillance system for HIV, surveillance should concentrate amongst selected groups of individuals who are known to be most at risk to HIV and some of the population groups that may bridge the epidemic into the general population.  Therefore during all rounds of surveillance conducted so far in Bangladesh, including the 5th round, the population groups selected were confined to those considered to be most vulnerable and some bridging populations.