Acknowledgments:We would like to thank Kate Orroth for conducting the literature search for the STROBE-RDS Guidelines and allowing us to use it for this analysis.
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ABSTRACTReporting key details of respondent-driven sampling (RDS) survey implementation and analysis is essential for assessing the quality of RDS surveys. RDS is both a recruitment and analytic method and, as such, it is important to adequately describe both aspects in publications. We extracted data from peer-reviewed literature published through September, 2013 that reported collected biological specimens using RDS. We identified 151 eligible peer-reviewed articles describing 222 surveys conducted in seven regions throughout the world. Most published surveys reported basic implementation information such as survey city, country, year, population sampled, interview method, and final sample size. However, many surveys did not report essential methodological and analytical information for assessing RDS survey quality, including number of recruitment sites, seeds at start and end, maximum number of waves, and whether data were adjusted for network size. Understanding the quality of data collection and analysis in RDS is useful to effectively plan for public health service delivery and funding priorities.
Standard Definitions is a work in progress; this is the eighth major edition. The American Association for Public Opinion Research plans to continue updating it, adding comparable definitions for other modes of data collection and making other refinements. AAPOR also is working with other organizations to further the widespread adoption and utilization of Standard Definitions. AAPOR is seeking the cooperation of companies that provide computer-assisted telephone interviewing (CATI) software. Some of these companies already have agreed to incorporate the definitions and formula into their software reports. AAPOR also is asking academic journals to use AAPOR standards in their evaluation and publication of articles; several, including Public Opinion Quarterly and the International Journal of Public Opinion Research, already have agreed to do so.The first edition (1998) was based on the work of a committee headed by Tom W. Smith. Other AAPOR members who served on the committee include
IntroductionThe UNAIDS 90‐90‐90 targets to diagnose 90% of people living with HIV, put 90% of them on treatment, and for 90% of them to have suppressed viral load have focused the international HIV response on the goal of eliminating HIV by 2030. They are also a constructive tool for measuring progress toward reaching this goal but their utility is dependent upon data availability. Though more than 25% of new infections are among key populations (KP)‐ sex workers, men who have sex with men, transgender people, people who inject drugs, and prisoners‐ and their sex partners, there is a dearth of treatment cascade data for KP. We assess the availability of cascade data and review the opportunities offered by biobehavioral and programme data to inform the HIV response.DiscussionThe emphasis on the collection of treatment cascade data among the general population in higher prevalence countries has not led to a similar increase in the availability of cascade data for KP. The limited data available for KP highlight large gaps in service uptake across the cascade, particularly in the first 90, awareness of HIV status. Biobehavioral surveys (BBS), with linked population size estimation, provide population‐based data on the treatment cascade and should be conducted every two to three years in locations with services for KP. With the inclusion of viral load testing, these surveys are able to monitor the entire treatment cascade among KP regardless of whether these populations access HIV services targeting the general population or KP. BBS also reach people accessing services and those who do not, thereby providing a unique opportunity to learn about barriers to service uptake including stigma and discrimination. At the same time high‐quality programme data can play a complementary role in identifying missed opportunities that can be addressed in real‐time.ConclusionsData are more important than ever for guiding the HIV response toward reaching 90‐90‐90 targets and eliminating HIV, particularly in the face of decreased funding for HIV and specifically for KP. Timely high‐quality BBS data can be triangulated with high‐quality programme data to provide a comprehensive picture of the epidemic response for KP.
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