TY - JOUR
T1 - Psychometric evaluation of HIV risk behavior assessments using Audio Computer Assisted Self-Interviewing (ACASI) among orphans and vulnerable children in Zambia
AU - Kane, Jeremy C.
AU - Bolton, Paul
AU - Murray, Sarah M.
AU - Bass, Judith K.
AU - Lakin, Daniel
AU - Whetten, Kathryn
AU - Skavenski van Wyk, Stephanie
AU - Murray, Laura K.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2017 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
PY - 2018/2/1
Y1 - 2018/2/1
N2 - Social desirability bias and underreporting of HIV risk behaviors are significant challenges to the accurate evaluation of HIV prevention programs for orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) in sub-Saharan Africa. Valid and reliable HIV risk behavior instruments are critical to address these challenges. We assessed the psychometric properties of two risk behavior measures, the World Aids Foundation Survey (WAF) and the Peer HIV Risk Behavior Screener (PHRBS), administered to 210 OVC in Zambia using Audio Computer Assisted Self-Interviewing. All WAF subscales exhibited good internal reliability (α >.80); only the Sexual Behavior Practices subscale strongly distinguished (P <.01) adolescents who engaged in HIV risk behaviors (“cases”) from those who did not (“non-cases”). An 8-item version of the PHRBS, refined using exploratory factor analysis, demonstrated good internal reliability (α = 87), differentiated “cases” from “non-cases” (P <.01), and correlated strongly with the Sexual Behavior Practices subcale (r =.34, P <.01). Results suggest that report of peers’ sexual behaviors can serve as a proxy for OVCs’ own behavior in contexts where social desirability bias affects reporting.
AB - Social desirability bias and underreporting of HIV risk behaviors are significant challenges to the accurate evaluation of HIV prevention programs for orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) in sub-Saharan Africa. Valid and reliable HIV risk behavior instruments are critical to address these challenges. We assessed the psychometric properties of two risk behavior measures, the World Aids Foundation Survey (WAF) and the Peer HIV Risk Behavior Screener (PHRBS), administered to 210 OVC in Zambia using Audio Computer Assisted Self-Interviewing. All WAF subscales exhibited good internal reliability (α >.80); only the Sexual Behavior Practices subscale strongly distinguished (P <.01) adolescents who engaged in HIV risk behaviors (“cases”) from those who did not (“non-cases”). An 8-item version of the PHRBS, refined using exploratory factor analysis, demonstrated good internal reliability (α = 87), differentiated “cases” from “non-cases” (P <.01), and correlated strongly with the Sexual Behavior Practices subcale (r =.34, P <.01). Results suggest that report of peers’ sexual behaviors can serve as a proxy for OVCs’ own behavior in contexts where social desirability bias affects reporting.
KW - HIV/AIDS
KW - assessment validation
KW - orphans and vulnerable children
KW - peer behavior
KW - risky sexual behavior
KW - sub-Saharan Africa
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85031109214&partnerID=8YFLogxK
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U2 - 10.1080/09540121.2017.1384787
DO - 10.1080/09540121.2017.1384787
M3 - Article
C2 - 29019254
AN - SCOPUS:85031109214
SN - 0954-0121
VL - 30
SP - 160
EP - 167
JO - AIDS Care - Psychological and Socio-Medical Aspects of AIDS/HIV
JF - AIDS Care - Psychological and Socio-Medical Aspects of AIDS/HIV
IS - 2
ER -