Kevin Fenton
Measuring sexual behaviour: methodological challenges in survey research
University College London|The Royal Free Hospital|Mortimer Market Centre
series editors j stephenson babikerthe study sexual behaviour lies heart understanding transmission dynamics sexually transmitted infections stis academic investigation sexual behaviour dates back 18th century time employed variety approaches including medical psychiatric investigation sexual disorders anthropological investigations survey research based largely volunteer samples recent studies driven largely public health response hivaids focused large scale probability sample survey research15 key areas inquiry shifted towards describing population patterns risk behaviours stihiv transmission understanding epidemics stis generated informing disease control strategiessexual behaviour largely private activity subject varying degrees social cultural religious moral legal norms constraints key challenge sex survey research generate unbiased precise measures individual population behaviour patterns methods needed minimise measurement error may introduced participation bias recall comprehension problems respondents willingness report sensitive sometimes socially censured attitudes behaviours6 7 paper briefly considers role different types study understanding sti epidemiology focuses potential sources measurement error survey research strategies assessing limiting themsex transm inf 2001778492the type study chosen depend purpose investigation however studies generally fall four main groups general population surveys studies population subgroups partner network studies ethnographic qualitative studies general population probability sample surveyscross sectional population surveys aim describe overall distribution behaviours populations using probability sampling techniques maximising response rates large scale behavioural surveys provide robust estimates prevalence