1. AIDSVu: Mapping HIV Surveillance Data and
Promoting HIV Testing
Jennifer Taussig
Patrick Sullivan
Rollins School of Public Health
Emory University
August 15, 2011

2. What is AIDSVu?
 A new mapping tool to make U.S. HIV prevalence
data widely accessible and locally relevant
 Concept originated with the desire to find a way
to expand the reach, impact and utility of HIV
surveillance data
 Target audience includes researchers, advocates,
public health officials, youth, policymakers, and
other members of the general public

3. AIDSVu Goals
 Make U.S. HIV prevalence data widely accessible, locally
relevant, and easy to understand by providing users with a
visual way to connect with the data on a national and local
level
 Motivate viewers to take action on an individual and
community level including locating HIV testing sites in their
community
 Generate traditional and non-traditional stakeholder interest
and position AIDSVu as a trusted resource for HIV data and
information

4. AIDSVu Technical Advisory Group
 Emory University  Centers for Disease Control and
– Patrick Sullivan Prevention
– Jennifer Taussig – Luke Shouse
 Gilead Sciences, Inc.  Kaiser Family Foundation
– Kacy Hutchison – Jennifer Kates
 HIV Surveillance Coordinators  National Alliance of State and
– Eve Mokotoff, Michigan Territorial AIDS Directors (NASTAD)
– Nanette Benbow, Chicago – Natalie Cramer
– Debbie Wendell, Louisiana
– Angelique Griffin, D.C.  University of Medicine & Dentistry
of New Jersey
– Patricia Fleming
 State HIV/AIDS Director
– Thomas Liberti, Florida

5. AIDSVu Guiding Principles
 Integrity of the data is paramount
 Establish the site as an ongoing, reliable, trusted source of
information
 Work in partnership with surveillance staff at the local,
state, and federal levels
 Present data in a way that makes it accessible to a broader
audience
 Pair data with other relevant information to help users
contextualize the data and take action

6. www.AIDSVu.org
Let’s tour the site!

7. Pre-Launch Preparation
 AIDSVu and message testing
– Test the AIDSVu experience and key takeaways
 Empower states to leverage AIDSVu
– Brief state AIDS directors, surveillance coordinators and
media teams
– Develop Public Education Resource Kit and other PR
support
 Stakeholder previews
– Preview of site with key influencers

8. Promotion of AIDSVu Web Site
 Traditional Media Outreach
– News bureaus
 Social Media/Online Advertising
– Twitter
– Facebook
– YouTube
 Strategic Partnership Activity
– Corporate
– HIV-related media networks
– Conferences
– State and local HIV planning groups

9. Highlights of Website Launch on June 1
Many With HIV Don't Know They Have It
"The USA TODAY analysis relied on CDC data supplied by Emory
University's AIDSVu project, an effort designed to make HIV
visible to the public by presenting state- and county-level
infection rates on a user friendly map. AIDSVu reinforces the
reality of AIDS in your own community."
AIDS in America: 30 Years In, New Map Shows
Epidemic Still Widespread
"The data that tell us about how many people are living with an
HIV diagnosis and how that's distributed across the country tells
us a really strong story about how we can best address the
epidemic." Read more.
HIV Google Map Gives New Perspective on Epidemic
"[AIDSVu] may be the most thorough geographical depiction
of HIV ever created."

10. Highlights of Website Launch on June 1
 Unique visitors to website: 112,050 since June 1
 Total page views: 204,007 individual page views
 Top Referring Sites
– Huffington Post
– Wired.com
– USA Today
 Top State/City Visitors

11. AIDSVu Visitors by State, June 1 – August 9, 2011

12. AIDSVu Visitors by City, June 1 – August 9, 2011

13. How can AIDSVu be a resource?
 Individual Level
– Inform users about epidemic
– Motivate users to take action on an individual and community level
– Find places to get tested for HIV
 Community/Structural Level
– Social media outreach and promotion
– Increased awareness of highly impacted areas leading to greater focus
on prevention, care, etc.
– Broader % of community knowing their HIV status
 Organizational/Policy Level
– Assist planning processes and allocation of resources
– Provide data for grant applications, reports, lobbying
– Identify gaps in services (e.g. HIV testing sites)

14. Challenges/Limitations
 Incomplete data for county-level view
 Possible inflation of county-level rates and case
counts because of correctional facilities
 Residence at diagnosis vs. current address
 Meet the needs/interests of diverse users
 Testing sites not exhaustive

15. Future Direction of AIDSVu
 Research-facing side to the website
 Mobile app
 Data at finer geographic levels– city and zip code
 Display other HIV prevention, care and treatment resources
 Transmission risk category data
 Overlay of correctional facilities

16. AIDSVu Contacts
 Patrick Sullivan, Principal Investigator
(404) 727-2038; pssulli@emory.edu
 Jennifer Taussig, Project Director
(404) 712-8950; jatauss@emory.edu
www.aidsvu.org

17. AIDSVu: Homepage

18. AIDSVu Map:
Overall HIV Prevalence Rate at County Level

19. AIDSVu Map:
Overall HIV Prevalence Rate at State Level

20. AIDSVu: County Pop-Up Balloon, Prince George’s, MD

21. AIDSVu Map:
HIV Prevalence Rate at County Level, Florida

22. AIDSVu Map:
HIV Prevalence Rate at County Level Overlaid with
Poverty Rate, Florida

23. AIDSVu Map:
HIV Prevalence Rate at County Level Overlaid with
HIV Testing Center Locations, Florida

24. AIDSVu Map: NIH-Funded HIV Prevention
and Vaccine Trials Sites

25. AIDSVu Map: HIV Prevalence Rate at Zip
Code-level, Washington, D.C.

26. AIDSVu State Profile Page, Florida

27. AIDSVu: Three Things You Can Do

28. AIDSVU: HIV Testing Site Locator