Use of sensitivity analysis to assess the effects on anti-hepatitis A virus antibodies of access to household water supply.
The objective of this study was to assess the impact of a possible unmeasured confounding variable in a previously published association between the effects of household water supply and positive results for hepatitis A serology. This was estimated using a path of integration between two methods of sensitivity analysis, called Rosenbaum's method and Greenland's external adjustment. The association between household water supply and positive results for hepatitis A (outcome) serology was insensitive to confounding unless the odds ratio for the association between the confounder and the outcome was > or = 4. The integration of the two sensitivity analysis methods presented proved useful when assessing the effects of a potential unmeasured confounder.
Cabral
M D B
MD
Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics, IBGE, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. maria.cabral@ibge.gov.br
Luiz
R R
RR
D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D015986:Confounding Factors, Epidemiologic; D005191:Family Characteristics; D006506:Hepatitis A / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000821:virology; D035922:Hepatitis A Antibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D030041:Hepatitis A virus / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D014881:Water Supply
D035922:Hepatitis A Antibodies