Limited benefit of repeating a sensitive question in a cross-sectional sexual health study
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Authors
Turner, Abigail Norris
Paul, Prabasaj
Norris, Alison H.
Issue Date
2013-03-09
Type
Article
Language
en_US
Keywords
Sensitive Behavior , ACASI , Sexually Transmitted Diseases , Tanzania
Alternative Title
Abstract
Background:
Sexual health research relies heavily on self-reported data. We explored whether repeating a key measure – number of lifetime sexual partners – improved the validity of this self-reported response.
Methods:
Using data from a study of Tanzanian plantation residents, we examined which of 505 participants changed their responses when a question about sexual partners was repeated. We examined which variable (first, second, or maximum response) was more predictive of herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) seropositivity, a biomarker strongly associated with number of lifetime partners. HSV-2 status was assessed using the HerpeSelect 2 ELISA IgG test.
Results:
When asked a second time, 10.7% of participants increased and 3.6% decreased their reported number of partners. Participants using audio computer-assisted self-interviews were more likely to change than those interviewed in person (p = 0.006). The increased odds of HSV-2 seropositivity with each additional partner ranged from 10% to 13% in men, and 33% to 37% in women, depending on which partner variable was used. Estimates had considerable confidence interval overlap and no substantial differences in precision.
Conclusions:
Some participants change their responses when asked a sensitive question a second time, but in this population, changes did not meaningfully affect associations between lifetime partners and HSV-2.
Description
Citation
Norris Turner, A., Paul, P., & Norris, A. H. (2013). Limited benefit of repeating a sensitive question in a cross-sectional sexual health study. BMC medical research methodology, 13, 34. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2288-13-34
Publisher
BMC Medical Research Methodology