The Influence of Social Desirability on Self-Reported Sexual Behavior in HIV Survey in Rural Ethiopia

Alexander Vu,Nhan Tran,Saifuddin Ahmed,Kiemanh Pham

doi:10.4236/wja.2013.34044

Abstract

Objective: It is in order to examine associations between social desirability (SD) and self-reports of abstinence among youths in rural Ethiopia. Methods: Youths of ages 15 - 24 (114 participants) were administered questionnaire to assess HIV knowledge and primary abstinence and a modified Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale to assess SD bias. The relationships between SD groups (dichotomized into high and low) and abstinence by various characteristics were assessed by using Fisher’s exact p-values. Results: The odds of individuals reporting abstinence were 13.2 times greater in the high SD group compared to the low SD group (p-value 0.002) when adjusted for education, gender, age group, and HIV knowledge. The differences in abstinence between the high and low SD score groups were also examined for selected variables. Conclusions: Individuals who exhibited more SD bias were more likely to report primary abstinence. SD bias should be considered when conducting self-reported surveys to measure the effectiveness of HIV prevention programs.

Highlights

HIV is a significant cause of mortality in sub-Saharan Africa
The objective of this study is to examine the association between social desirability (SD) bias and the self-reported levels of primary abstinence among unmarried youths, age 15 - 24, in rural Ethiopia
We examined the relationship between social desirability and primary abstinence among Ethiopian youths who participated in an HIV intervention study

Summary

Introduction

HIV is a significant cause of mortality in sub-Saharan Africa. In response to the alarming prevalence of the infection, the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) was established to combat the spread of HIV. A significant portion of PEPFAR’s efforts was committed to prevent the spread of HIV through the promotion of ABC programs (abstinence, being faithful, condom use). This effort is associated with decreasing the burden of HIV in sub-Saharan Africa where many of PEPFAR’s priority countries are located. Self-reported surveys to measure the sexual behaviors of the beneficiaries of abstinence promotion programs are commonly used to assess the effectiveness of these programs. Self-reported surveys are prone to the effect of social desirability (SD)

Methods

Discussion

Conclusion