The Enhanced Surveillance Section (ESS) is part of the Surveillance and Epidemiology Division within the Centre for Communicable Diseases and Infection Control at the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC). ESS monitors the prevalence of HIV and other related infections, as well as associated risk behaviours through bio-behavioural surveillance among key populations (e.g. aboriginals, people who inject drugs, and men who have sex with men). The section also conducts national surveillance of HIV strain and drug resistance.
My practicum experience took place at the Enhanced Surveillance Section of PHAC in Ottawa. I feel fortunate to work alongside such experienced and highly talented group of professionals in public health sector. ESS provided me with an excellent opportunity to gain deeper insight into some of the principles of surveillance systems and their operations, as well as challenges involved in conducting population-based public health projects at the national level. …show more content…
Construction and analysis of HIV cascade framework would help to improve HIV services by key populations and their retention in those services. Tracks bio-behavioral surveillance system is one of the main program areas within ESS which monitors prevalence of HIV, hepatitis C, and other Sexually Transmitted and Blood-borne Infections (STBBI) and associated risk behaviours among vulnerable populations in Canada. For this project, I worked alongside the “Tracks” team to analyze the results of their surveys among three of the vulnerable populations, i.e. aboriginals (A-Track), people who inject drugs (I-Track), and men who have sex with men (M-Track). These cross-sectional surveys are conducted periodically at regular intervals. For my practicum, I analyzed the following survey