National programmes: HIV sentinel surveillance: practice question

A PSM question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

Try it

PSM · National programmes: HIV sentinel surveillance

Sample item

A programme manager needs a proxy for the trend of HIV prevalence in the general population of India. Which sentinel group is used by the national HIV sentinel surveillance for this purpose?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

A. Pregnant women attending antenatal clinics

In India's HIV sentinel surveillance, women attending antenatal clinics are the proxy for the general population, while STI clinic attendees, female sex workers, men who have sex with men and injecting drug users represent high-risk groups. Their trend informs the national estimates.

Option by option

  • A. Pregnant women attending antenatal clinics (correct)

    Correct. Antenatal clinic attendees are used as a proxy for the general population.

  • B. People who inject drugs

    People who inject drugs are a high-risk group and do not represent the general population.

  • C. Attendees of sexually transmitted infection clinics

    STI clinic attendees are a high-risk group and give higher prevalence.

  • D. Female sex workers

    Female sex workers are a high-risk group and do not represent the general population.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

More PSM questions

Questions about this PSM question

What is the answer to this PSM question?

The best answer is A, Pregnant women attending antenatal clinics. In India's HIV sentinel surveillance, women attending antenatal clinics are the proxy for the general population, while STI clinic attendees, female sex workers, men who have sex with men and injecting drug users represent high-risk groups.

Why is "People who inject drugs" not the answer?

People who inject drugs are a high-risk group and do not represent the general population.

Why is "Attendees of sexually transmitted infection clinics" not the answer?

STI clinic attendees are a high-risk group and give higher prevalence.

Why is "Female sex workers" not the answer?

Female sex workers are a high-risk group and do not represent the general population.

What concept does this question test?

It tests National programmes: HIV sentinel surveillance in PSM. Their trend informs the national estimates.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study National programmes: HIV sentinel surveillance?

Practise biostatistics with small calculations until sensitivity, predictive values and risk measures are automatic. Then use the flashcards and the other PSM questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.