Respondent driven sampling (RDS) was designed to study
'hidden' populations, for which there are no available sampling frame. RDS has
been shown to recruit far into social networks of the study population and
achieve unbiased estimates when certain assumptions are fulfilled. Web-based
respondent driven sampling (WebRDS) has been implemented among MSM in Vietnam
and produced a sufficient sample of MSM. In order to see if WebRDS could work
in a 'hidden' population in a high-income setting, we performed a WebRDS among
MSM in Sweden to study a sensitive topic, sexual risk behaviour for HIV/STI and
Internet use.
A cross-sectional survey was implemented between July 11,
2012 and January 21, 2013 by using a WebRDS software. Men, fifteen years old or
above, who reported having ever had sex with another man were included. The
web-survey explored sociodemographics, sexual risk behaviour for HIV/STI and Internet
use.
The WebRDS process created a sample of 123 eligible
respondents. The mean age among participants was 32 years old. All respondents
reported having had unprotected anal intercourse (UAI) with at least one
regular and one casual sex partner during the last 12 months. On average
participants reported having had UAI with three casual sexual partners and in
total having had seven casual sex partners during the last 12 months.
The WebRDS produced a sample of Internet-using MSM in Sweden
who all reported sexual risk behaviour for HIV/STI during the last 12 months.
It holds promise for future online studies among MSM and a possibility to reach
MSM at risk for HIV/STI with interventions or information. Some challenges were
found including short recruitment chains, and further research need to address
how to optimize WebRDS online recruitment methods in high income settings.
Below: Use of online social networks among MSM respondents
Below: MSM study participation per county in Sweden
Below: WebRDS recruitment chains for 148 MSM participants
Below: HIV/STI prevention resources usage among MSM respondents
Below: Email Usage per week among MSM respondents
Full article at:
By:
- 1Department of Public Health Sciences, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
- 2Department of Public Health Sciences, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; College of Information System and Management, National University of Defense Technology, Changsha, China.
- 3Department of Sociology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden.
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