title: Best-friend reports: a tool for measuring the prevalence of sensitive behaviors.
abstract: We introduce the best-friend methodology for using surveys to measure the population prevalence of sensitive behaviors. We demonstrate the effectiveness of this tool by comparing self-reports to best-friend reports of sexual behavior and abortion history among young women in Malawi (n = 1493). Best-friend reports reveal higher and more believable estimates of abortion and multiple sexual partners. In contexts in which best friends commonly discuss such behaviors, best-friend reports are an inexpensive and easily implemented tool.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health and Behavioral Sciences, University of Colorado Denver, 80217, USA. sara.yeatman@ucdenver.edu
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yeatman
authors.forename: Jenny
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Trinitapoli
mesh_terms: D000028:Abortion, Induced / Q000523:psychology*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003142:Communication; D003625:Data Collection / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D033062:Friends; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008295:Malawi; D008297:Male; D057566:Self Report; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D012944:Social Support; D055815:Young Adult