Profile Strengths and Limitations
When making planning decisions, it is important to consider the
overall strengths and limitations of this document. Although the profile
is comprehensive and draws from a number of data sources, there are many
things that the profile cannot explain. Although the HIV/AIDS
surveillance system in Louisiana is extensive, it is based on data on
people who have been tested confidentially for HIV. Consequently, HIV
infections are underdetected and underreported because only persons with
HIV who choose to be tested confidentially are counted. Also, persons
are tested at differing times after they become infected, and many
persons are not tested until HIV infection has progressed to AIDS. Thus,
it is important to remember that the data in this report do not
necessarily represent the characteristics of persons who have been
recently infected with HIV, nor do they provide a true measure of HIV
incidence.
Analyses of many different data sets are presented to provide robust
representations of particular subpopulations. However, demographic and
geographic subpopulations are disproportionately sensitive to
differences and changes in access to health care, HIV testing patterns,
and specific prevention programs and services. All of these issues must
be carefully considered when interpreting HIV data. Therefore, it is
important to make comparisons across data sources to get the most
complete picture.
The most current analysis available is presented for each source of
data; however, the most recent data differ from one source to another.
For example, the most recent data available for the SHDC are from 1998,
whereas some data (e.g., HITS) were collected in 2001. In addition, more
detailed analyses are available for some sources. Although a limited
number of analyses were available from the Bureau of the Census at the
time this profile was prepared, that agency expanded its race/ethnicity
reporting categories in 2000. In this profile, however, the new
categories are not used in analyses of HIV/AIDS data. The information in
this report is for statewide planning, but some regional data are
presented. Detailed regional information is available within regional
HIV/AIDS profiles.
Go to Profile Preparation |
