Authors: Dana Paquette John De Wit
Publish Date: 2010/07/08
Volume: 14, Issue: 6, Pages: 1252-1264
Abstract
The aim of this review was to develop an overview of the sampling methods used in developed countries for behavioural surveillance among men who have sex with men We abstracted information from peerreviewed and nonpeerreviewed publications and when needed contacted first authors and surveillance authorities Out of the 40 developed countries 26 surveillance systems were identified in 23 countries These surveillance systems made use of one or a combination of venuebased sampling n = 16 webbased sampling n = 11 gay press/mailout n = 8 or respondentdriven sampling n = 4 Differences in the sampling methods used were found by year of implementation and by region More information is needed to better assess the strengths and limitations of the range of sampling methods There was substantial variation in the way sampling methods were applied most especially in venuebased sampling To improve the ability to compare indicators across countries key elements of the sampling methods should be standardized
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