title: From local studies to a regional perspective: pooled analysis of secondary data in a collaborative project on vulnerabilities associated with drug use in Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay (1998-2004).
abstract: This paper develops the methodological principles of pooled analysis design, using it to study situations of vulnerability among drug users at a regional level. Data from thirteen cross-sectional studies carried out in Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay between 1998 and 2004 were integrated. A critical review of the concept of data matrix which identifies four structural components, allowed us to: define the units of analysis spanning the different original populations; identify a core of common variables (social and demographic characteristics, drug use, sexual practices, serology of blood-borne and sexually transmitted diseases) with their respective values; examine the indicators, dimensions and procedures used to measure the variables; and establish their compatibility with a thematic and comparative analysis of data collection tools. The main result was a new data matrix with 3,534 cases. Multidisciplinary collaboration between teams and institutions from the three countries made it possible to maximize the available sources in order to analyze characteristics of the local contexts and of the overall regional.
authors.affiliation: Bachelor in Sociology. Researcher, Civil Association Exchanges. Researcher, Instituto Gino Germani, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Argentina. gonzaloralon@yahoo.com.ar
authors.forename: Gonzalo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ralón
authors.affiliation: Social worker. Specialist in Child and Youth Social Problems. Coordinator, Área de Investigación, Intercambios Asociación Civil, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.affiliation: Physician. Specialist in Medical Clinic and Epidemiology. Medical advisor and researcher, Intercambios Asociación Civil, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Marcelo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vila
authors.affiliation: Bachelor in Sociology. Instituto de Investigación y Desarrollo Social (IDES), Montevideo, Uruguay.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Latorre
authors.affiliation: Physician. PhD in Public Health. Researcher, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Río de Janeiro, Brasil.
authors.forename: Francisco Inácio
authors.initials: FI
authors.lastname: Bastos
authors.affiliation: Physician. PhD in Sciences. Head of the Observatório de Saúde Urbana & Grupo de Pesquisas em Epidemiologia, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais. Belo Horizonte, Brasil.
authors.forename: Waleska Teixeira
authors.initials: WT
authors.lastname: Caiaffa
mesh_terms: D001118:Argentina / Q000453:epidemiology; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D003141:Communicable Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014583:Uruguay / Q000453:epidemiology; D035862:Vulnerable Populations
keywords: Methodology; Data Analysis; Drug Users; HIV; Infectious Disease Transmission