HIV Risk Environment and Perception Study Among Groups of High Risk 2007

The survey interviewers and supervisors were selected based on language skills residence, ie, native to the assigned county, ability to read and write effectively in English, prior experience in the conduct of survey.

A training of a survey personal lasted for 6 days, and the covered the following: Background on purpose of the study and on data collection and design, geography of the study areas, participatory reviews of the questionnaire with practice interviews in class, reproductive health topics covered in the questionnaire including general health condition STIs sexuality activities, knowledge and risk perception toward HIV/AIDS and attitude toward people living with AIDS and gender violence, procedures for maintaining confidentiality, techniques of asking about violence and appropriate follow up, sensitivity toward study subjects and ensuring privacy.

The entire team was trained in strategies to ensure not only their own safety, but the safety of the respondents as well. Supervisors were trained in second-stage sampling, checking of interviews for data accuracy and mistakes, and ensuring all procedures were followed. Referral protocols were implemented that simply provided village-level information on access to health, water, and sanitation. Before actual data collection began, the survey instrument was pre-tested in a village site that was not part of the sample.