Comparing direct, network scale-up, and proxy respondent methods in estimating risky behaviors among collegians

Sheikhzadeh, Khodadad; Baneshi, Mohammad Reza; Afshari, Mahdi; Haghdoost, Ali Akbar

doi:10.3109/14659891.2014.942401

Cited by 21 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 10 publications

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“…A lower percentage obtained from the NSU method may result from the low visibility of high-risk behaviors within the students’ social networks. Such findings were also achieved in other studies that compared direct size estimations with indirect ones (11, 14). Comparing direct and indirect methods, we can conclude that indirect methods perform better and obtain more exact and closer-to-reality estimations than direct ones.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 81%

“…Additionally, the overall prevalence of lifetime use of opium by the crosswise model was 13.6%, with a substantial underreporting of opium use via the direct method which was 1%. Sheikhzadeh et al (14) in a university setting in Iran (2014) estimated the prevalence of opium use at 3.02% using the NSU method and 5.13% through direct questioning in male students; however, based on the proxy respondent method (PRM), it was higher at 9.36%. These same estimations for female students based on these three methods were 0.07%, 1.64%, and 1.16%, respectively.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In a recent study (2014) in a medical University in Iran based on the three methods of PRM, NSU, and direct questioning, the prevalence of alcohol was estimated at 2.32%, 0.44%, and 2.23% for females, while such estimations were 18.12%, 8.68%, and 13.4% for males, respectively (14). In the present study, the estimates for alcohol consumption among male students was much higher than for females.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In a study in Iran among medical students, the frequency of extra-marital sex based on the PRM, NSU, and direct questioning methods was estimated at 13.4%, 7.4%, and 10.3% for males, and 3.47%, 0.95%, and 1.4% for females, respectively (14). The findings of a study in Canada (2009) showed that 12% of undergraduate students had risky sexual behavior (20).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Frequency of High-Risk Behaviors Among Iranian College Students Using Indirect Methods: Network Scale-Up and Crosswise Model

Kazemzadeh

Shokoohi

Baneshi

et al. 2016

Int J High Risk Behav Addict

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BackgroundSince the direct questions usually underestimate the frequency of sensitive behaviors, indirect methods can be used to estimate the frequency of some risky behaviors such as illicit drug use, sexual behaviors especially where these behaviors are highly stigmatized.ObjectivesIn the current study, we indirectly estimated the prevalence of some risky behaviors among college students using two indirect methods: network scale-up (NSU) and crosswise model (CM).Patients and MethodsHaving recruited 563 students from one of Iran’s major medical universities, the prevalence of opium and drug use, alcohol consumption, relationships with the opposite sex (RWOS),and extra/pre-marital sex (EPMS) were estimated using two indirect methods.ResultsThe estimated prevalence using the CM and NSU were alcohol consumption (16.8% vs. 8.1%), opium use (2.2% both), methamphetamine use (7.2% vs. 1.2%), taking tramadol without medical indications (14.8% vs. 4.8%), RWOS (42.3% vs. 31.9%), and EPMS (12.4% vs. 7.1%).ConclusionsLower estimations in the NSU method might be due to the transmission barrier, which means that students were not fully aware of the high-risk behaviors of their close friends. Nonetheless, it seems that these risky behaviors were more or less common among Iranian college students.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 81%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Frequency of High-Risk Behaviors Among Iranian College Students Using Indirect Methods: Network Scale-Up and Crosswise Model

Kazemzadeh

Shokoohi

Baneshi

et al. 2016

Int J High Risk Behav Addict

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“…The resident of Kerman province, which is a city located close to Afghanistan and Pakistan borders, have been substantially involved in these risky behaviors. Statistics show that the prevalence of risky behaviors such as alcohol use among women and men was 0.44% and 8.68%, respectively, and the prevalence of drug use was 0.07% and 3.02% in women and men, respectively (5).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Determinants of Risky Behaviors in Youth: A Gender-Based Study

Mahdavian

Zolala

2016

Int J High Risk Behav Addict

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Background: Gender differences play an important role in risky behaviors such as drug use, of the youth. Despite having a substantial youth population in the Middle East North Africa (MENA) region there are limited studies on this issue. Objectives: The present study explores the parental and individual factors related to risky behaviors of boys and girls. Patients and Methods: This cross-sectional study used a multistage cluster sampling method. The five main areas of Kerman were classified as clusters. Within the clusters, a systematic random sampling was used to select the street, where five houses were examined for eligible candidates. A self-administered questionnaire (created by the author) assessed the 500 candidates (aged 15-29 years) on parental styles, level of education, social capital, modern leisure activities, and risky behavior in 2013. Data were analyzed using logistic regression with SPSS 19 (statistical package of social sciences) at a significance level of 5%. Results: Parental styles affecting the risky behaviors of both girls and boys were as follow: neglecting parental styles increased the risk of drug use (OR = 8.63, P = 0.04 and OR = 33.44, P = 0.001 in boys and girls, respectively). In addition, having a stay-at-home mother reduced the risk of drug use (OR = 0.09, P = 0.002) in boys, and reduced the risk of drug use and smoking in girls (OR = 0.34, P = 0.03 and OR = 0.38, P = 0.04, respectively). Also, engaging in modern leisure activities raised the risk of all risky behaviors for boys and girls (eg, alcohol drinking: OR = 1.23, P = 0.000). In boys, higher level of education reduced the risk of drug use (OR = 0.13, P = 0.05), whereas it increased the risk of sexual behaviors (OR = 2.03, P = 0.03). In girls, higher level of education was related to an increase in alcohol use (OR = 2.44, P = 0.05). Conclusions: Parental style could play a different role in conducting risky behaviors among girls and boys. Therefore, appropriate parental styles should be used in bringing up children based on their gender.

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