National population-based HIV surveys - the method of choice for measuring the HIV epidemic

National population-based surveys that include HIV testing are considered to be the 'gold standard' to measure HIV prevalence at a country level, since such surveys include men, non-pregnant women and children, and hence a much wider proportion of the population than do antenatal surveys.Three national HIV household surveys have been conducted in South Africa, the first in 2002, then in 2005 and 2008. These collected data on HIV status, socio-demographic factors and behavioural determinants as well as exposure to prevention programmes which greatly enhanced the analysis and interpretation of the trends in HIV infection.