Aggregate versus individual-level sexual behavior assessment: how much detail is needed to accurately estimate HIV/STI risk?
The sexual behaviors of HIV/sexually transmitted infection (STI) prevention intervention participants can be assessed on a partner-by-partner basis: in aggregate (i.e., total numbers of sex acts, collapsed across partners) or using a combination of these two methods (e.g., assessing five partners in detail and any remaining partners in aggregate). There is a natural trade-off between the level of sexual behavior detail and the precision of HIV/STI acquisition risk estimates. The results of this study indicate that relatively simple aggregate data collection techniques suffice to adequately estimate HIV risk. For highly infectious STIs, in contrast, accurate STI risk assessment requires more intensive partner-by-partner methods.
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine, Center for AIDS Intervention Research, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee 53202, USA. pinkrton@mcw.edu
Steven D
SD
Pinkerton
Carol L
CL
Galletly
Timothy L
TL
McAuliffe
Wayne
W
DiFranceisco
H Fisher
HF
Raymond
Harrell W
HW
Chesson
D000465:Algorithms; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission*; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D015995:Prevalence; D011634:Public Health; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission*; D040241:Social Marketing; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D047568:Unsafe Sex