title: [A study on the estimation of the size of male homosexual population].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the practical survey method on estimating the size of male homosexual population.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nine male homosexual gathering spots were selected and three methods as division method, capture-mark-recapture method and multiplier method were applied in counting the numbers of homosexual men in one city in Sichuan province.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Number of counting through division method was 877 and the three numbers through capture-mark-recapture method were 1408, 1207 and 949 respectively. However, appropriate data was not obtained by multiplier method.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Division method was easy to operate with its high credibility, but costly. Capture-mark-recapture method was less costly less both in capital and time, and the results could be testified to each other. Multiplier method should be modified before applied to obtain reliable information.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, West China School of Public Health, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
authors.forename: Rong-sheng
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Luan
authors.forename: Gang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.forename: Da-peng
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.forename: Fan
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Gang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Bo-heng
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Liang
mesh_terms: D002681:China; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013223:Statistics as Topic / Q000379:methods*