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The reliability of self-reported sexual behaviour
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1991
Year
Research EthicsSocial SciencesPsychologySelf-reported Sexual BehaviourSexual CommunicationSexual BehaviourSexual CompulsionPublic HealthSexual And Reproductive HealthBehavioral SciencesSexual ResponsibilityHivSexual BehaviorEpidemiologySexual HealthGenitourinary Medicine ClinicHiv InfectionSex TherapyHuman Sexuality
The quality of data collected by surveys of sexual behaviour may be subject to sources of error involving reliability, validity, and non-participation bias. A preliminary study of sexual behaviour, including perception of risk for HIV infection, knowledge of HIV transmission and attitudes towards AIDS, was conducted in a genitourinary medicine clinic. The sample comprised 767 patients attending clinic over a 3-month period; comparisons were made between different methods of data collection (questionnaires and interviews) and between responders and non-responders. High levels of agreement were found between questionnaire and interview. Some sexual behaviours were more frequently reported at interview. No significant differences were found between responders and non-responders to either questionnaire or interview.