Audio computer-assisted survey instrument versus face-to-face interviews: optimal method for detecting high-risk behaviour in pregnant women and their sexual partners in the south of Brazil

Abstract

Summary Audio computer-assisted survey instrument (ACASI) has been shown to decrease under-reporting of socially undesirable behaviours, but has not been evaluated in pregnant women at risk of HIV acquisition in Brazil. We assigned HIV-negative pregnant women receiving routine antenatal care at in Porto Alegre, Brazil and their partners to receive a survey regarding high-risk sexual behaviours and drug use via ACASI (n = 372) or face-to-face (FTF) (n = 283) interviews. Logistic regression showed that compared with FTF, pregnant women interviewed via ACASI were significantly more likely to self-report themselves as single (14% versus 6%), having >5 sexual partners (35% versus 29%), having oral sex (42% versus 35%), using intravenous drugs (5% versus 0), smoking cigarettes (23% versus 16%), drinking alcohol (13% versus 8%) and using condoms during pregnancy (32% versus 17%). Therefore, ACASI may be a useful method in assessing risk behaviours in pregnant women, especially in relation to drug and alcohol use.

High Prevalence of Sexually Transmitted Infections in Pregnant Women Living in Southern Brazil

“…This proportion is higher than cited in other studies in the south of Brazil evaluating alcohol use during pregnancy where only 9% to 13% of women endorsed any alcohol use during pregnancy. 2 ,42s This finding is highly concerning given the subtle, yet pervasive developmental abnormalities that can be associated with prenatal alcohol exposure. 43s We performed an exploratory analysis to examine risk factors associated with drinking, but no positive associations were found between demographics or partnership status/stability and alcohol use.…”

Gender Differences in Relations of Smoking Status, Depression, and Suicidality in Korea: Findings from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2008-2012

“…This has been documented to occur in various face-to-face surveys, for example ones for detecting high-risk behaviors among women. 11 40 Another shortcoming of our study may be that the KNHANES data set has not been designed with quality control for all steps of data acquisition and management (including survey administration, data collection, laboratory analysis and data processing as well as internal quality assurance and control procedures).…”

Disclosure of sensitive behaviors across self-administered survey modes: a meta-analysis

“…Existing evidence on the inclusion of an audio component in computerized surveying is mixed. Some studies that compared audio-enhanced computer surveys to interviewer-administered surveys found higher prevalence rates of sensitive behaviors in computerized interviews (e.g., Des Jarlais et al, 1999;Gorbach et al, 2013;Kelly, Soler-Hampejsek, Mensch, & Hewett, 2013;Turner et al, 1998;Yeganeh et al, 2013). However, these studies confounded the effects of audio-enhancement with self-administration.…”