Feasibility and acceptability of cell phone diaries to measure HIV risk behavior among female sex workers

AIDS Behav. 2014 Dec;18(12):2314-24. doi: 10.1007/s10461-014-0718-y.

Abstract

Individual, social, and structural factors affecting HIV risk behaviors among female sex workers (FSWs) are difficult to assess using retrospective surveys methods. To test the feasibility and acceptability of cell phone diaries to collect information about sexual events, we recruited 26 FSWs in Indianapolis, Indiana (US). Over 4 weeks, FSWs completed twice daily digital diaries about their mood, drug use, sexual interactions, and daily activities. Feasibility was assessed using repeated measures general linear modeling and descriptive statistics examined event-level contextual information and acceptability. Of 1,420 diaries expected, 90.3 % were completed by participants and compliance was stable over time (p > .05 for linear trend). Sexual behavior was captured in 22 % of diaries and participant satisfaction with diary data collection was high. These data provide insight into event-level factors impacting HIV risk among FSWs. We discuss implications for models of sexual behavior and individually tailored interventions to prevent HIV in this high-risk group.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Activities of Daily Living
  • Adult
  • Audiovisual Aids
  • Cell Phone*
  • Cohort Studies
  • Condoms / statistics & numerical data*
  • Data Collection
  • Electronic Health Records*
  • Feasibility Studies
  • Female
  • HIV Infections / prevention & control*
  • Health Services Research
  • Humans
  • Indiana / epidemiology
  • Middle Aged
  • Patient Compliance
  • Prospective Studies
  • Risk-Taking
  • Sex Workers*
  • Sexual Behavior / statistics & numerical data*
  • Sexual Partners*
  • Substance-Related Disorders / epidemiology*
  • United States / epidemiology
  • User-Computer Interface