Test-retest reliability of self-reported HIV/STD-related measures among African-American adolescents in four U.S. cities.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the test-retest reliability of self-reported sexuality-related data in a sample of African American adolescents residing in four U.S. cities.


METHODS
Using audio computer-assisted self-interviewing (ACASI), 156 African American teens (mean age = 15.5 years) provided data on lifetime and recent sexual behavior, HIV/sexually transmitted disease (STD) testing, and theoretical antecedents of sexual risk behavior on two occasions separated by 2 weeks.


RESULTS
Most self-reports of lifetime sexual behavior and STD/HIV testing were stable across the two assessment points. Test-retest agreement was substantial for dichotomous indices of lifetime sexual behaviors and STD testing (kappas ranging from .61-.87), and for 3-month recall of vaginal sex (kappa = .72) and number of sexual partners (intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC] = .68). Lower reliability estimates emerged for count data of unprotected vaginal sex occasions (ICC = .44). Test-retest reliability estimates for antecedents of sexual risk behavior were highest for a validated measure of HIV-related knowledge (r = .73), but somewhat lower for peer norms (r = .58) and condom use self-efficacy (r = .50).


CONCLUSIONS
Although variability in the stability of self-report data was observed, findings confirm that most sexual behavior, STD and HIV testing history, and psychosocial measures can be assessed reliably among adolescents. Research should continue to identify strategies to enhance the reliability of self-report sexual behavior data from youth at risk for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections.
Vanable
Peter A
PA
Center for Health and Behavior, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York 13244, USA. pvanable@syr.edu
Carey
Michael P
MP
Brown
Jennifer L
JL
DiClemente
Ralph J
RJ
Salazar
Laura F
LF
Brown
Larry K
LK
Romer
Daniel
D
Valois
Robert F
RF
Hennessy
Michael
M
Stanton
Bonita F
BF
D000293:Adolescent; D001741:Black or African American; D003194:Computer-Assisted Instruction; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000635:transmission; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards*; D014481:United States