From networks to populations: the development and application of respondent-driven sampling among IDUs and Latino gay men.
One of the challenges in studying HIV-risk behaviors among gay men is gathering information from a non-biased sample, as traditional probability sampling methods cannot be applied in gay populations. Respondent-Driven Sampling (RDS) has been proposed as a reliable and bias-free method to recruit "hidden" populations, such as gay men. The aim of this study is to assess the feasibility and effectiveness of RDS to sample Latino gay men and transgender persons. This was carried out when we used RDS to recruit participants into a study that investigated community involvement on HIV/AIDS sexual risk behaviors among Latino gay and bisexual men, and transgender (male-to-female) persons in Chicago and San Francisco. The population coverage of RDS was then compared to simulated time-location sampling (TLS). Recruitment differences were observed across cities, but the samples were comparable. RDS showed broader population coverage than TLS, especially among individuals at high risk for HIV.
Ramirez-Valles
Jesus
J
Community Health Sciences, University of Illinois-Chicago, School of Public Health, Chicago, IL 60612-4394, USA. valles@uic.edu
Heckathorn
Douglas D
DD
Vázquez
Raquel
R
Diaz
Rafael M
RM
Campbell
Richard T
RT
D000328:Adult; D002641:Chicago; D003625:Data Collection; D015340:Epidemiologic Research Design; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission*; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D018451:Homosexuality, Male; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012495:San Francisco; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous