Go Top Why is it so important to interpret data carefullydo the data not speak for themselves?
No, data can be interpreted in different waysand not always correctly. For example, the apparent stabilization of HIV prevalence in some countries in Africa does not necessarily mean that the epidemic is beginning to ebb. It could reflect the fact that equal numbers of people are dying of AIDS as are being newly infected with HIV. Another example: as antiretroviral therapy becomes more widely available, HIV prevalence might rise (that is, more people could be living with HIV in some countries). However, this would not necessarily mean that more people are being infected with HIV, rather that people already living with the virus are surviving longer due to treatment.
