TY - JOUR
T1 - Estimating sexual behavior parameters from routine sexual behavior data
AU - Van Vliet, Carina
AU - Van Der Ploeg, Catharina P.B.
AU - Kidula, Nancy
AU - Malonza, Isaac M.
AU - Tyndall, Mark
AU - Nagelkerke, Nico J.D.
N1 - Funding Information:
This study was supported by grants from the Health, Family Planning, and AIDS program (DG VIII) and the Science and Technology for Developing Countries (STD) program (DG XII) of the Commission of the European Communities, Brussels, Belgium.
PY - 1998/8
Y1 - 1998/8
N2 - In mathematical models for predicting the spread of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), the rate of acquisition of new sex partners and concurrency, the number of simultaneous sexual partnerships, are important parameters. Yet, information on these parameters is rarely obtained in routine sexual behavior surveys; instead, questions about the total number of sex partners during specific periods are often asked. We present two methods that estimate the rate of partnership acquisition and concurrency from reported numbers of sex partners in two overlapping periods. The first method assumes homogeneous behavior, while the second method also takes account of heterogeneity in sexual behavior. Both methods assume random (Poisson) partnership acquisition and the possibility of overlap in relationships. For both methods it might be relevant to distinguish individuals who are in a stable relationship from those who are not.
AB - In mathematical models for predicting the spread of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), the rate of acquisition of new sex partners and concurrency, the number of simultaneous sexual partnerships, are important parameters. Yet, information on these parameters is rarely obtained in routine sexual behavior surveys; instead, questions about the total number of sex partners during specific periods are often asked. We present two methods that estimate the rate of partnership acquisition and concurrency from reported numbers of sex partners in two overlapping periods. The first method assumes homogeneous behavior, while the second method also takes account of heterogeneity in sexual behavior. Both methods assume random (Poisson) partnership acquisition and the possibility of overlap in relationships. For both methods it might be relevant to distinguish individuals who are in a stable relationship from those who are not.
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U2 - 10.1080/00224499809551946
DO - 10.1080/00224499809551946
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:0031682749
SN - 0022-4499
VL - 35
SP - 298
EP - 305
JO - Journal of Sex Research
JF - Journal of Sex Research
IS - 3
ER -