Abstract

LatinSida (LatinAIDS): the first Latin America database about HIV/AIDS prevention, epidemiology, treatment and care, and social issues

H. Ortiz-Perez¹, E. Bravo-Garcia², E. Rodriguez-Nolasco², C. Magis-Rodriguez<sup>2

1</sup>Universidad Autonoma Metropolitana - Xochimilco, Departamento de Atención a la Salud, Mexico, Mexico, ²Centro Nacional para la Prevención y el Control del VIH/SIDA - CENSIDA, Mexico, Mexico

Issues: Over the past ten years, it is estimated that from 2500-3500 have been published articles on HIV / AIDS in Latin America in peer-review journals (scientific literature), compared with 10,000-12,000 papers presented at national, regional or international conferences (gray literature). Because of this, the literature search on research and interventions on HIV / AIDS in Latin America is very complex because the gray literature is not recorded in the databases of indexed journals, which causes it not be used or lost more part of the experience on HIV / AIDS. The project goal was to create a database of HIV/AIDS research and interventions in Latin America (LatinSida).
Description: We used the following sources: International AIDS Conferences, organized by the International AIDS Society (IAS), from 2000 (Durban) to 2008 (Mexico City); The Latin American Forum on HIV/ AIDS organized by the Horizontal Technical Cooperation Group (GCTH), from 1998 (Mexico City) to 2009 (Lima, Peru); the Central American Congress on STI / HIV / AIDS (CONCASIDA), 1999 (San Pedro Sula) to 2007 (Managua); and databases of indexed journals (MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO and Sociological Abstracts). Using Reference Manager-11 ®, created a database with full references, abstracts and full text of the work on HIV / AIDS in Latin America. Currently, 10,000 references are available at: http://www.latinsida.org.mx and the database is updated continuously.
Lessons learned: The traditional databases of scientific information not record the full range of investigations and interventions in Latin American countries. The creation of a first Latin American HIV/AIDS database successfully integrated experience in the region.
Next steps: There is an urgent need to improve information dissemination on HIV/AIDS using the Internet to meet the needs of decision makers, researchers, activists, health workers, people living with HIV, universities and public in general.