title: Feasibility of a Population Based Survey on HIV Prevalence in Barbados, and Population Preference for Sample Identification Method.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To predict response rate and validity of a population-based HIV prevalence survey in Barbados using oral fluid, and the method of sample identification preferred by participants.
  
  
  METHODS
  Persons age 18 to 35 randomly selected from the voters' register to participate in a study of the prevalence of chlamydia and gonorrhoea (STI) were invited to answer a questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 496 persons selected for the STI study, 88 did not participate, and a further 10 did not answer the questionnaire, leaving 398 respondents. 329 persons or 66% (60% men, 73% women, p = 0.003) of the original 496 persons said that they would be willing to take part in an HIV survey using oral fluid. People indicating willingness to take part in an HIV survey did not differ significantly from non-respondents and those indicating unwillingness to participate by a number of demographic and STI risk factors including age, education level, partnership status, number of partners, condom use, drug use, and STI infection status. For persons willing to participate in a HIV survey, confidential linked sample identification was acceptable to 99.0% (95% CI +/- 1.0), and unlinked identification to 1.6% (95% CI +/- 1.3).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The HIV prevalence estimated by a linked survey would have a reasonable response rate and be valid, as likelihood of participation is not related to infection risk.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medical Sciences, The University of the West Indies, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Bridgetown, Barbados, West Indies.
authors.forename: O Peter
authors.initials: OP
authors.lastname: Adams
authors.forename: Anne O
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Carter
references.citation: Lancet. 2007 Dec 1;370(9602):1811-3
references.pmid: 18061043
references.citation: S Afr Med J. 2004 Apr;94(4):283-8
references.pmid: 15150943
references.citation: S Afr Med J. 2004 Sep;94(9):776-81
references.pmid: 15487845
references.citation: JAMA. 1997 Jan 15;277(3):254-8
references.pmid: 9005276
references.citation: Sex Transm Infect. 2008 Jun;84(3):192-4
references.pmid: 18305122
references.citation: Clin Diagn Lab Immunol. 1998 Mar;5(2):171-5
references.pmid: 9521138
references.citation: J Clin Virol. 2000 Dec;19(3):157-61
references.pmid: 11090751