Reliability of sexual histories in heterosexual couples

Sex Transm Dis. 1995 May-Jun;22(3):169-72. doi: 10.1097/00007435-199505000-00008.

Abstract

Background and objectives: Reliability of responses between partners was used as a surrogate to examine the validity of self-reported sexual histories in two samples with different risk and demographic profiles and different intensities of contact with study staff.

Study design: Retrospective self-report data were compared between partners and between samples.

Results: Despite differences between the two groups, reliability of the sexual history data was comparable.

Conclusions: Further study is needed to examine other methodologies for collecting sensitive data. Intensive contact and rapport building may not be necessary.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • California / epidemiology
  • Condoms / statistics & numerical data
  • Data Collection / methods*
  • Demography
  • Female
  • HIV Infections / transmission
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Medical History Taking / statistics & numerical data*
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Risk Factors
  • Sexual Behavior / statistics & numerical data*
  • Sexual Partners
  • Truth Disclosure*