Biological validation of self-reported condom use among sex workers in Guinea.
Self-reported condom use may be prone to social desirability bias. Our aim was to assess the validity of self-reported condom use in a population of female sex workers using prostate specific antigen (PSA) as a gold standard biomarker of recent unprotected vaginal intercourse. We collected data on 223 sex-workers in Conakry, Guinea in order to assess the sensitivity and specificity of self-reported condom use as well as to examine the predictors of discordance between self-report and PSA presence. PSA was detected in 38.4% of samples. Sensitivity of self-reported condom use was 14.6% and its specificity was 94.7%. Self-perceived high risk of HIV infection was the only significant independent predictor of misreported condom use. PSA could be useful to validate self-reported condom use in surveys and to allow a better understanding of factors associated with social desirability in sexual behaviour reporting.
Aho
Joséphine
J
Département de médecine sociale et préventive, Université de Montréal, Outremont, Canada. josephine.aho@umontreal.ca
Koushik
Anita
A
Diakité
Soumaïla Laye
SL
Loua
Kovana Marcel
KM
Nguyen
Vinh-Kim
VK
Rashed
Sélim
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D016701:Guinea; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen / Q000032:analysis*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D057566:Self Report; D012661:Semen / Q000378:metabolism*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D011477:Sex Work; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D047568:Unsafe Sex; D055815:Young Adult
D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen