HIV treatment as prevention : principles of good HIV epidemiology modelling for public health decision- making in all modes of prevention and evaluation
Date
2012-07
Authors
Delva, Wim
Wilson, David P.
Abu-Raddad, Laith
Gorgens, Marelize
Wilson, David
Hallett, Timothy B.
Welte, Alex
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Public Library of Science (PLOS)
Abstract
Public health responses to HIV epidemics have
long relied on epidemiological modelling analyses to help
prospectively project and retrospectively estimate the
impact, cost-effectiveness, affordability, and investment
returns of interventions, and to help plan the design of
evaluations. But translating model output into policy
decisions and implementation on the ground is challenged
by the differences in background and expectations
of modellers and decision-makers. As part of the PLoS
Medicine Collection ‘‘Investigating the Impact of Treatment
on New HIV Infections’’—which focuses on the
contribution of modelling to current issues in HIV
prevention—we present here principles of ‘‘best practice’’
for the construction, reporting, and interpretation of HIV
epidemiological models for public health decision-making
on all aspects of HIV. Aimed at both those who conduct
modelling research and those who use modelling results,
we hope that the principles described here will become a
shared resource that facilitates constructive discussions
about the policy implications that emerge from HIV
epidemiology modelling results, and that promotes joint
understanding between modellers and decision-makers
about when modelling is useful as a tool in quantifying
HIV epidemiological outcomes and improving prevention
programming.
Description
The original publication is available at http://www.plosmedicine.org
Keywords
HIV infections -- Epidemiology, HIV infections -- Prevention
Citation
Delva, W. et al. 2012. HIV treatment as prevention: principles of good HIV epidemiology modelling for public health decision-making in all modes of prevention and evaluation. PLoS Med, 9(7), e1001239, doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.1001239.