The evaluation of surveys of sexual behaviour: a study of couples in rural Senegal.

ABSTRACT

The reliability of self-reported answers about sexual behaviour is assessed by means of a survey of couples in rural Senegal, Africa, carried out in 1992. A total of 51 married couples were followed weekly over a five-week period. Reports for a recall period of seven days are reliable dates of sexual acts differed by no more than a day in 73 per cent of cases. Reports over longer periods are less reliable. Retrospective recall of coital frequency for a four-week period yields much higher estimates than those obtained with a seven-day recall, particularly for men.

ABSTRACT

PIP The authors set out to measure the degree of agreement between married, cohabiting couples about the frequency of their acts of sexual intercourse and especially about extramarital acts of sexual intercourse. To that end, 51 married couples in the Ziguinchor region with wives ranging in age younger than 30 years to older than 60 were surveyed. Data were collected from each individual in the absence of his or her spouse. The survey assessed the level of agreement between answers made by both members of the same couple, but collected separately; retrospective reporting of sexual activity during the last four weeks versus weekly reporting of sexual activity during four weeks; and answers to the same retrospective questions asked at 6-week intervals. Males and females aged 30-44 years in married couples had 1.1 and 0.7 acts of sexual intercourse per week, respectively. The authors note that widely practiced sexual abstinence for at least five days during menstruations may be a factor in the relatively low frequency of acts of sexual intercourse. 73% of answers regarding the dates of acts of sexual intercourse are concordant at 0 or 1 day. This latter finding is strongly indicative of high interpartner reliability in the weekly reports given the lack of any tradition in this population for couples to discuss sexuality. Adherence to cultural norms would therefore imply that the respondents did not discuss with their partners how they would respond or had responded to interview questions. The reliability of reports was inversely related to the period of recall. In addition, respondent reports indicate a relatively high frequency of extramarital relations among both members of cohabiting couples, with all acts of sexual intercourse reported as not being protected by a condom. Condom use therefore needs to be promoted in this population and inhabitants taught about the high HIV-related risk involved in seasonal migration and extramarital relations.