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How you ask really matters: randomised comparison of four sexual behaviour questionnaire delivery modes in Zimbabwean youth
  1. Lisa F Langhaug1,
  2. Yin Bun Cheung2,3,
  3. Sophie J S Pascoe2,
  4. Petronella Chirawu4,
  5. Godfrey Woelk4,
  6. Richard J Hayes2,
  7. Frances M Cowan1,4
  1. 1University College London, London, UK
  2. 2Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
  3. 3Singapore Clinical Research Unit, Clinical Trials and Epidemiology Research Unit, Singapore, Singapore
  4. 4Department of Community Medicine, University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe
  1. Correspondence to Dr Lisa Langhaug, Centre for Sexual Health and HIV Research, Mortimer Market Centre, Off Capper Street, London WC1E 6AU, UK; lisa.langhaug{at}gmail.com

Abstract

Objective A sexual health survey among rural Zimbabwean youth was used to compare the validity and reliability of sexual behaviour measures between four questionnaire delivery modes.

Methods Using a random permuted block design, 1495 youth were randomised to one of four questionnaire delivery modes: self-administered questionnaire (SAQ=373); SAQ accompanied by an audio soundtrack (Audio-SAQ=376); face-to-face interview with sensitive questions placed in a confidential voting box (Informal confidential voting interview; ICVI=365); and audio computer-assisted survey instrument (ACASI=381). Key questions were selected a priori to compare item non-response and rates of reporting of sensitive behaviours between questionnaire delivery modes. Qualitative data were collected on perceived method acceptability (n=115).

Results Item non-response was significantly higher with SAQ and Audio-SAQ than with ICVI and ACASI (p<0.001). After adjusting for covariates, the odds of reporting sexual activity among Audio-SAQ and ACASI users were twice as high as the odds for SAQ users (Audio-SAQ AOR=2.05 (95% CI 1.2 to 3.4); ACASI AOR=2.0 (95% CI 1.2 to 3.2)), with no evidence of reporting difference between ICVI and SAQ users (ICVI AOR=1.0 (95% CI 0.6 to 1.8)). ACASI users reported a lower age at first intercourse and were more likely to report a greater number of partners (mean difference=1.06; 95% CI 0.33 to 1.78; p=0.004). They reported an increased ability to answer questions honestly (p=0.004) and believed their answers would be kept secret. Participants claimed increased comprehension when hearing questions while reading them. ICVI users expressed difficulty answering sensitive questions, despite understanding that their answers were unknown to the interviewer.

Conclusion ACASI appears to reduce bias significantly, and is feasible and acceptable in resource-poor settings with low computer literacy. Its increased use would likely improve the quality of questionnaire data in general and sexual behaviour data specifically.

  • Adolescents
  • sexual behaviour
  • survey methodology
  • Zimbabwe
  • randomised controlled trial
  • Africa
  • qualitative research
  • sexual behaviour
  • STD

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Footnotes

  • Trial registration: The Regai Dzive Shiri trial was registered retrospectively; the trial number is ISRCTN70775692—Randomised trial of HIV/sexually transmitted infection (STI) prevention in Zimbabwean youths.

  • Funding This study was supported by the US National Institute of Mental Health (an initial grant R01 MH66570-01, supplemented by R01 MH066570-04S2). The research reported here was conducted independently from the funders, who had no input in this manuscript.

  • Competing interests None.

  • Ethics approval Ethics approval was provided by the Medical Research Council of Zimbabwe and the ethics committees of University College London and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

  • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.