Effect of Gender of the Recorded Voice on Responses to Sensitive Sexual Behavior Questions

Abstract

Audio computer-assisted self-interview (ACASI) has been shown to reduce interviewer and social desirability bias related to sensitive questions, which can be especially important for studies of sexual behavior and HIV risk. Baseline demographic and HIV risk data were collected using ACASI for 849 adults aged 18-34 (423 males and 426 females) of unknown or HIV-negative status as part of an HIV-incidence cohort study in Kisumu, Kenya. ACASI questionnaires and possible responses were recorded being read either by a male or female voice in the three most commonly used languages (English, Kiswahili, and Dholuo). Participants were randomly assigned to hear either male or female voice. Dependent variables, including 12 sexual behavior questions, were evaluated using logistic regression. No significant differences in responses to the 12 sensitive questions were found for gender of the recorded voice on ACASI or for the interaction between gender of recorded ACASI voice and respondent gender.

Evaluation of syndromic management of sexually transmitted infections within the Kisumu Incidence Cohort Study

“…We tried to control for this through the use of ACASI, which has been reported to facilitate more accurate responses to sensitive behavioural questions than face-to-face interviews. 46,47 Third, the aetiological diagnosis of chlamydia and gonorrhoea used an assay for active disease; however, the HSV-2 and syphilis serology may have misclassified recent acquisition as it also classifies people as positive even if their infection was remote and is inactive. 48–51 Further, the misclassification of symptom status could have occurred if the reported symptoms were unrelated to gonorrhoea, chlamydia, syphilis or HSV-2 but to other organisms that were not tested, for example Mycoplasma genitalium , Trichomonas vaginalis , etc.…”

Correlates of prevalent sexually transmitted infections among participants screened for an HIV incidence cohort study in Kisumu, Kenya

“…However, the screening HIV prevalence we found is nearly identical to local population estimates from national surveillance data, 19 suggesting that perhaps the study participants may be representative of the local community regardless of the convenience sampling and potential bias of desiring to participate in a research study. Second, there may be response bias as with any self-reported behavioural/risk data collection, although we believe use of ACASI facilitated more truthful responding 65,66 than face-to-face interviews would have. Thirdly, our diagnosis of chlamydia/gonorrhoea was an assay for active disease, but for HSV-2 and syphilis was serology, which may have missed recent acquisition and which also classifies people as positive even if their infection was remote and is inactive.…”

Let’s Talk about Sex, Maybe

“…Some studies used data collection techniques that obviate concerns about reporting sensitive topics to a live interviewer, including audio-assisted computer self-interviewing (ACASI) (e.g., Oloo et al 2012), though it may be less effective with older and less educated participants (Reichmann et al 2010). Methodological inquiries on collecting sensitive data are important in a setting like South Africa, where understanding risky sexual behaviors is critical for addressing high HIV prevalence (see Gómez-Olivé et al 2013), and where our understanding of fieldworker influences on survey data is scant (for exceptions, see Bignami-Van Assche, Reniers and Weinreb 2003).…”

“…Methodologists have examined influences on sexual behavior reporting, including interviewer characteristics such as sex (e.g., McCombie and Anarfi 2002), age (e.g., Ford and Norris 1997), and ethnicity (e.g., Becker et al 1995) as well as familiarity of the interviewer to the respondent (Weinreb 2006). Some studies used data collection techniques that obviate concerns about reporting sensitive topics to a live interviewer, including audio-assisted computer self-interviewing (ACASI, e.g., Oloo et al 2012), although this may be less effective with older and less-educated participants (Reichmann et al 2010). Methodological inquiries on collecting sensitive data are important in a setting like South Africa, where understanding risky sexual behaviors is critical for addressing high HIV prevalence (see Gómez-Olivé et al 2013) and where our understanding of fieldworker influences on survey data is scant (for exceptions, see Bignami-Van Assche et al 2003).…”