Simon Gregson|Tom Zhuwau|Jenitha Ndlovu|Constance Nyamukapa
Methods to Reduce Social Desirability Bias in Sex Surveys in Low-Development Settings
Imperial College London
social desirability bias hampers measurement risk behavior acquiring stds evaluation control interventions confidential data collection methods reduce bias western countries generally require technology available less developed settings goal goal report describe evaluate informal confidential lowtechnology methodinformal confidential voting interviews icvisfor collecting sexual behavior data less developed settingsreports multiple sex partners sexually active basicliterate populationbased survey participants rural zimbabwe randomly assigned icvis facetoface interviews ftfis comparedninetytwo percent respondents n 7823 sufficiently literate icvis error rates low higher ftfis male female icvi respondents interviewed reported multiple current sex partners 133 524 respectively multiple partners past month 171 292 past year 135 197the icvi method appears reduce bias requires evaluation assess viability effect alternative settings