Test–Retest Reliability of Self-Reported Sexual Behavior, Sexual Orientation, and Psychosexual Milestones Among Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual Youths (original) (raw)
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Test-Retest Reliability Of Self-Reported Sexual History Among Heterosexual Youth
Journal of Adolescent Health, 2009
Background: Studies assessing risk of sexual behavior and disease are often plagued by questions about the reliability of self-reported sexual behavior. In this study, we evaluated the reliability of self-reported sexual history among urbanized women in a prospective study of cervical HPV infections in Nigeria. Methods: We examined test-retest reliability of sexual practices using questionnaires administered at study entry and at follow-up visits. We used the root mean squared approach to calculate within-person coefficient of variation (CVw) and calculated the intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) using two way, mixed effects models for continuous variables and () κ statistics for discrete variables. To evaluate the potential predictors of reliability, we used linear regression and log binomial regression models for the continuous and categorical variables, respectively. results: We found that self-reported sexual history was generally reliable, with overall ICC ranging from 0.7 to 0.9; however, the reliability varied by nature of sexual behavior evaluated. Frequency reports of non-vaginal sex (agreement = 63.9%, 95% CI: 47.5-77.6%) were more reliable than those of vaginal sex (agreement = 59.1%, 95% CI: 55.2-62.8%). Reports of time-invariant behaviors were also more reliable than frequency reports. The CVw for age at sexual debut was 10.7 (95%
Test–retest reliability of self-reported sexual Behavior history in Urbanized nigerian Women
Background: Studies assessing risk of sexual behavior and disease are often plagued by questions about the reliability of self-reported sexual behavior. In this study, we evaluated the reliability of self-reported sexual history among urbanized women in a prospective study of cervical HPV infections in Nigeria. Methods: We examined test–retest reliability of sexual practices using questionnaires administered at study entry and at follow-up visits. We used the root mean squared approach to calculate within-person coefficient of variation (CVw) and calculated the intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) using two way, mixed effects models for continuous variables and () κ ^ statistics for discrete variables. To evaluate the potential predictors of reliability, we used linear regression and log binomial regression models for the continuous and categorical variables, respectively. results: We found that self-reported sexual history was generally reliable, with overall ICC ranging from 0.7 to 0.9; however, the reliability varied by nature of sexual behavior evaluated. Frequency reports of non-vaginal sex (agreement = 63.9%, 95% CI: 47.5–77.6%) were more reliable than those of vaginal sex (agreement = 59.1%, 95% CI: 55.2–62.8%). Reports of time-invariant behaviors were also more reliable than frequency reports. The CVw for age at sexual debut was 10.7 (95% CI: 10.6–10.7) compared with the CVw for lifetime number of vaginal sex partners, which was 35.2 (95% CI: 35.1–35.3). The test–retest interval was an important predictor of reliability of responses, with longer intervals resulting in increased inconsistency (average change in unreliability for each 1 month increase = 0.04, 95% CI = 0.07–0.38, p = 0.005). conclusion: Our findings suggest that overall, the self-reported sexual history among urbanized Nigeran women is reliable.
Reliability of Retrospective Self-Reports of Sexual and Nonsexual Health Behaviors Among Women
Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy, 2002
The accuracy of self-reports regarding sexual health behavior has been questioned. To investigate whether assessment of sexual health behaviors are uniquely difficult to report, 185 college women were asked to answer behavioral frequency questions about sexual and non-sexual health behaviors for an 8-week interval. Women took part in either a face-to-face interview or completed a selfadministered questionnaire. One week later the women returned and responded to the same questions in the same mode of assessment conditions. The test-retest intraclass correlations showed that all health behaviors, sexual and non-sexual were reported reliably. There was a trend for lower frequency reports to yield more stable estimates of behavioral frequency. These findings converge with other methodological investigations to indicate that socially sensitive health behaviors are not more difficult to assess reliably.
Open Journal of Pediatrics
Introduction: Over time, new sexual practices other than the common ones are frequently described. This work aimed to determine the sexual orientation and its associated factors among adolescents attending school in two big cities in Cameroon. Methodology: A cross-sectional study with prospective data collection took place from November 2021 to April 2022 in eight secondary schools (four in Yaoundé and four in Douala). We conducted non-probability, consecutive sampling on school-going, sexually active adolescents between the ages of 14 and 19 years. A self-administered questionnaire to students was used to study their sexual orientations and practices. Univariate and multivariate analyses made it possible to find the associated factors using the chi-square test. Results: We included 1274 adolescents with an average age of 18 years; majority were boys (54.8%) for a sex ratio of 1.21. Most (49.7%) were from two-parent families. Cisgender was the most common self-gender identity (89.6%). The main sexual orientation was heterosexuality (82.3%), followed by bisexuality (9.7%) and homosexuality (8%). The average age at first sexual intercourse (coitarche) was 15 years and the coitarche was consenting in 84.1%. Sexual practices included: kissing (94.7%), fondling (93.4%), vaginal penetration (80.6%), oral sex (40.4%), masturbation (22.8%), fisting (18.4%), and anal penetrations (17.5%). The majority of sexual intercourse acts (55.8%) took place without protection; 24.6% of adolescents practiced them with a person of the same sex and 18.4% with several others simultaneously. The factors associated with heterosexuality were age ≤17 years (aOR: 2.44 [1.36-4.40]; p = 0.003), self-identification opposite to primary sexual characteristics (
International Journal of Clinical Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 2022
The aim of this paper was to study and understand the sexuality, pattern and the age of sexual debut amongst young reproductive aged Nigerian health students. Methodology: It was a double-blinded cross-sectional study conducted amongst 81 participants. All participants were delegates present at the SRHR-session of the 2 nd Nigerian Health Students summit. Data on variables were obtained using a validated data collection tool that was distributed via a google online form. Analysis was done using a google spread sheet analyzer. Written consent was sought from each participant on the questionnaire. Results: 61.3% have had their sexual debut, while 38.7% have not had their sexual debut. 92% identified as heterosexuals (straight), 3.7% bisexuals, 1.2% identified as purely homosexuals, while 3.1% preferred not to say. The pattern of debut identified here were consented, coerced and forced. Majority of the sexually active respondents had their sexual debut between the ages of 16 and 20 years of age. 16.5% of all those who had their first sexual intercourse before the age of 15 are now heterosexuals (straight), while 83.5% of them now identify as bisexuals. Conclusion: Pattern and age of sexual debut has a significant role to play in the sexual life of an individual.
Study of Sexuality among Adolescent Students of a Secondary School in Ilorin, Nigeria. 1
The relevant socio-demographic variables which may influence sexual behaviour and the level of awareness of the adolescents on risky sexual practices and sexually transmitted diseases were assessed using a descriptive cross sectional survey of the sexual behaviour of 196 adolescent secondary school students (10 -19yrs) in Ilorin-Nigeria. The subjects were selected using a multistage sampling technique. Forty-three percent of the subjects selected were females and fifty-seven percent were males. The results showed that the knowledge of the respondents was high on issues relating to STDs and HIV transmission and prevention but was low when awareness of individual STDs was considered. This study reveals that forty percent of the respondents had at least one previous experience of sexual intercourse and a higher proportion of males were sexually experienced. The subjects showed a clustering of age of sexual initiation between the ages of 14 and 18 years. The most frequent debut partners were schoolmates and neighbours accounting for seventy percent of the responses. Audio-visual means were the most common means by which the respondents obtained information on sex and sexuality with films being the single most important source for 25 percent of the respondents. The internet was also shown as an emerging source of information for adolescents. Finally, significant relationships were identified as existing between the gender of respondents and a history of previous sexual experience and also between their age and history of previous sexual experience. There was no significant relationship found between the religion and history of previous sexual experience among the respondents.
Frontiers in reproductive health, 2021
Background: Unsafe sex, particularly, condomless sex exposes adolescents to sexual and reproductive health risks. This study aimed to assess the sexual experiences and to determine the most important covariates of sexual activity and consistent condom use among adolescents in Plateau State, Nigeria. Methods: A cross sectional survey was conducted among 428 adolescents selected from 6 LGAs through a multistage sampling technique. The data was analyzed using the IBM Statistical package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23, multiple logistic regression was conducted to determine the covariates of sexual activity and condom use. Results: About one third (38%) of the adolescents were sexually active, 5.7% had same sex partners, 70% had more than one sexual partner and majority (72.4%) were not consistently using condom during sex. Logistic regression results showed that older adolescents (OR = 5.73; CI = 3.72-8.12; p = 0.001) and out of school adolescents (OR = 2.68; CI = 1.79-4.00; p = 0.001) were more likely to be sexually active, while multivariable logistic regression analysis showed age (AOR = 0.33; CI = 0.12-0.90; p = 0.031) and gender as important covariates of being sexually active, (AOR = 6.29; CI = 3.18-12.44; p = 0.001). Inconsistent condom use was more likely among adolescents; with lower education, (OR = 2.14; CI = 1.19-3.85; p = 0.011), having sex with older partners (OR = 0.61; CI = 0.42-0.90; P = 0.013) and with low awareness of SRH issues (OR = 2.08; CI = 1.02-4.22; p = 0.044). The multivariable logistic regression however, showed gender, being male (AOR = 0.43; CI = 0.006-3.09; p = 0.023) as covariate of consistent condom use. Conclusion: Most sexually active adolescents had multiple sexual partners, some had same sex partners and majority were not consistently using condom. Older adolescents and those out of school were more likely to be sexually active. Awareness of SRH issues significantly influenced condom use while gender, specifically being male, was the independent covariate for being sexually active and for consistent condom use. We recommend sexual health intervention targeted at adolescents. In addition, gender should be mainstreamed into adolescent sexual and reproductive health programmes.
Studies in Family Planning, 2014
Understanding the transmission dynamics of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections is critically dependent on accurate behavioral data. This study investigates the effect of the mode of questionnaire delivery on the quality of sexual behavior reporting in a 2010 survey conducted in Kampala, Uganda, among 18-24-year-old women. We compare the reported prevalence of five sexual outcomes across three interview modes: traditional face-to-face interviewing (FTFI) in which question rewording was permitted, FTFI administered via computer-assisted personal interviewing (CAPI) in which questions were read as written, and audio computer-assisted self-interviewing (ACASI) in which participants listened to prerecorded questions and entered responses using a computer touchscreen. We then assess the validity of the data by evaluating the reporting of sexual experience against three biological markers. Results suggest that ACASI elicits higher reporting of some key indicators than FTFI does, but self-reports from all interview modes were subject to validity concerns when compared with biomarker data. The study highlights the important role that biomarkers can play in sexual behavior r esearch. (Studies in Family Planning 2014; 45[1]: 43-58)
Comparison of Adolescents' Reports of Sexual Behavior on a Survey and Sexual Health History Calendar
Assessing sexual risk is critical for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and sexually transmitted infection (STI) prevention with adolescents. This article compares sexual risk reports from two self-administered instruments, a standard survey and a sexual health history calendar (SHHC), among racially diverse youth (n¼232) ages 14 to 21 seeking services at a public health clinic. Agreement between methods was assessed using Lin’s concordance correlation coefficients (CCC) and Bland-Altman plots. Lin’s CCC showed poor to moderate agreement between instruments on reports of sexual partners in the past 3 (0.47), 6 (0.55), and 12 (0.49) months. While individual sexual partner questions were refused a total of 179 times on the survey, youth reported having sexual partners during the same time period on the SHHC in most (77.1%) of these instances. Poor agreement was also found for condom use frequency (CCC¼0.17), with youth’s frequency of condom use on the SHHC differing from that reported on the survey for more than half (55.6%) of the months they were sexually active. While lack of objective sexual behavior measures limits conclusions about the accuracy of reports, the ways in which youth’s responses varied across instruments may offer insight into the complexity of adolescent sexual risk taking as well as have important implications for development of HIV=STI preventive interventions.
Predictors of high risk sexual behaviour in gay and bisexual men
Sozial- und Pr�ventivmedizin SPM, 1992
Gay and bisexual men are known to have made substantial adjustments to their sexual behaviour in response to AIDS t. Nevertheless studies continue to report a high frequency of homosexually active men engaging in potentially risky sexual activity, particularly, unprotected receptive anal sex 2. An understanding of such behaviour is required in order to design appropriate health educational interventions. The Health Belief Model 3 draws attention to a number of social-psychological factors that may be important influences upon health behaviour, and that may also suggest how to target health interventions. Thus one central variable of the HBM is the individual's perception of personal risk in relation to a disease such as AIDS in determining readiness to change behaviour 4. Related to perception of risk is the individual's level of knowledge about HIV transmission. The model also suggests that the greater the perceived seriousness or threat of a disease, the greater the likelihood of change 5. Another factor central to the HBM is the perception of costs and benefits of changing behaviour. In particular gay men may have strong attitudes regarding the costs and benefits associated with adopting safer sex 6. Individuals' sense of control over health, general self-confidence or self esteem have been suggested as elements additional to the HBM that may also be important influences upon behavioural change in this area 6. The HBM also indicates that a range of external cues may be stimuli to change. One factor that may be particularly important is degree of contact with the AIDS epidemic v. This paper reports on aspects of the sexual behaviour of a sample of homosexually active men in England. Results from a longitudinal study are used to examine the extent to which high risk sexual behaviour may be predicted by the following variables from the HBM: perceptions of risk, level of knowledge about HIV transmission, perceived severity and threat from the AIDS epidemic, perceived costs and benefits of adopting safer sex including views about condom use, personal sense of control over health generally and specifically in relation to HIV, self confidence and self esteem and contact with the AIDS epidemic. In addition the influence of mens' current partnerships is examined. Whilst not included within the normal range of variables of the HBM, relationships may be expected to play a potential role in influencing high risk sexual behaviour.