NCJ Number
218353
Journal
Journal of Adolescence Volume: 30 Issue: 2 Dated: April 2007 Pages: 353-359
Date Published
April 2007
Length
7 pages
Annotation
This study compared the use of self-administered paper questionnaires with personal digital assistant (PDA) questionnaires in collecting sexual behavior information from a sample of South African adolescents.
Abstract
The use of personal digital assistant (PDA) questionnaires is useful in the collection of sensitive sexual behavior data from South African adolescents. Except for ever having had sex, there was no difference in reporting of data by adolescents regardless of method, and the agreement between the two methods was excellent. The use of the PDA resulted in more complete data collection, and the PDA was found to be user-friendly by the majority of the adolescents. However, the study was limited by the small number of participants, as well as a relatively low prevalence of sexual risk behaviors due to the age group involved, 11 to 19 years. The data supports the use of palmtop technology in the collection of sexual behaviors and other sensitive self-reported information from adolescents in resource-limited settings, such as Sub-Saharan Africa. Reporting bias in adolescent behavioral research may be overcome with the use of PDAs or other computer based technologies. However, there is little knowledge into the use of these tools among adolescents in low resource settings. In an effort to identify valid, simple, and inexpensive methods to collect sexual behavior data from South African adolescents, this study compared traditional self-administered paper questionnaires with PDA-based questionnaires to collect demographic and sexual behavior data from a community sample of 11 to 19 year olds. Tables, references