In Colorado, HIV transmission from heterosexual contact accounts for approximately 10% of newly diagnosed HIV cases. Women are at particular risk for HIV infection due to high-risk heterosexual contact. NHBS-HET collects information on heterosexually active persons at increased risk for HIV reporting sex with an opposite sex partner in the 12 months before interview. NHBS uses low income as a proxy for increased risk for acquiring HIV through heterosexual sex.
Before each NHBS cycle, formative assessment is conducted to learn more about the current status of the population and to inform operational procedures. Respondent-driven sampling (RDS) is used during the HET cycles. A small number of initial participants, or “seeds,” are selected to complete the survey and recruit their peers to participate. Recruitment and referrals then continue until the target sample size is reached.
Trained interviewers in all NHBS project areas use a standardized, anonymous questionnaire to collect information on HIV-related risk behaviors, HIV testing, and the use of HIV prevention services. HIV testing is offered to all participants regardless of their self-reported HIV status. During each cycle, a minimum of 500 eligible persons from each participating project area are interviewed and offered HIV testing.
HET Cycles in Denver
| HET1 2007 |
HET2 2010 |
HET3 2013 |
HET4 2016 |
HET5 2019 |
HET7* 2025 |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total completed surveys | 760 | 522 | 499 | 407 | 195 | |
| Total HIV tests | 759 | 510 | 496 | 407 | 195 | |
| HIV prevalence | 0.5% | 1.2% | 0.8% | 0.7% | 0% |
NOTE: There was no HET cycle in round 6.