Assessment of Sexual Behavior and Condom Use Among Female Sex Workers in India

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Assessment of Self-Reported Sexual Behavior and Condom Use

Among Female Sex Workers in India Using a Polling Box Approach: A Preliminary

Report.

Articles

Sexually Transmitted Diseases. 35(5):489-494, May 2008.

Hanck, E. MPH; Blankenship, Kim M. PhD; Irwin, S. MA; West,

S. MA; Kershaw, Trace PhD

Abstract:

Background: The accuracy of behavioral data related to risk for HIV and other

sexually transmitted infections is prone to misreporting because of social

desirability effects. Because computer-assisted approaches are not always

feasible, a noncomputerized interview method for reducing social desirability

effects is needed. The previous performance of alternative methods has been

limited to aggregate data or constrained by the simplicity of dichotomous-only

responses.

We designed and tested a " polling box " method for case-attributable,

multiple-response survey items in a low literacy population.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 812 female sex workers in

Andhra Pradesh, India. For a subset of questions embedded in a face-to-face

survey questionnaire, every third participant was provided graphical response

cards upon which to mark their answer and place in a polling box outside the

view of the interviewer. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to test

for response differences to questions about socially undesirable, socially

desirable, or sensitivity-neutral behaviors in the 2 interview methods.

Results: Polling box participants demonstrated higher reporting of risky sexual

behaviors and lower reporting of condom use, with no conclusive response

patterns among sensitivity-neutral items.

Conclusion: Our findings suggest that the polling box approach provides a

promising technique for improving the accurate reporting of sensitive behaviors

among a low-literacy population in a resource poor setting. Additional research

is needed to test logistical adaptations of the polling box approach.

© Copyright 2008 American Sexually Transmitted Diseases Association