The utility of non-proportional quota sampling for recruiting at-risk women for microbicide research.
In the context of a measurement development study designed to contextualize microbicide acceptability, a sample that represented a range of at-risk women and maintained the statistical power needed for validity analyses was required. A non-proportional quota sampling strategy focused on race/ethnicity and number of sexual partners was utilized. This strategy resulted in enrollment of approximately equal proportions of Latina (31%), Black (36%), and White (32%) women, and an approximately 1:2 ratio of single-partnered (29%) and multi-partnered (71%) women. About 17% of women screened were ineligible based on eligibility criteria; an additional 16% were ineligible based on quota closures. Most participants were recruited through word of mouth (39%), community-based organizations (19%), or media sources (19%). Women recruited through word of mouth had the highest screen-to-interview completion percentage (67%). Non-proportional quota sampling is a feasible option for ensuring adequate representation of sample characteristics in microbicide research, but this goal should be weighed against cost and staff burden.
Morrow
Kathleen M
KM
Centers for Behavioral and Preventive Medicine, The Miriam Hospital/Brown Medical School, Coro West, Providence, RI 02903, USA. kmorrow@lifespan.org
Vargas
Sara
S
Rosen
Rochelle K
RK
Christensen
Anna L
AL
Salomon
Liz
L
Shulman
Lawrence
L
Barroso
Candelaria
C
Fava
Joseph L
JL
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018579:Patient Selection; D018401:Sample Size; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012747:Sexual Partners; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016387:Women's Health
D000890:Anti-Infective Agents