Dataset Information

Can respondent driven sampling be used to recruit new mothers? A mixed methods study in metropolitan Washington DC.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Respondent driven sampling (RDS) is employed to recruit populations that are hard-to-reach, "hidden," or without a sampling frame. For new mothers (those with infants <6 months) in countries without national health care systems or registries, there is no sampling frame, and random samples may only be attained through costly strategies, e.g., random-dial calling.

Objective

To assess the feasibility of RDS to recruit new mothers.

Methods

In the initial study, we recruited 30 new mothers ("seeds") from a single birth hospital; each was given 3 referral coupons to give to other mothers ("referrals"). When our sample did not self-perpetuate with referrals, additional seeds were recruited. Demographics of seeds and referrals were compared. A subset of mothers participated in focus groups and were asked about their experience with RDS. We also conducted a second survey of new mothers to further assess feasibility of RDS in this population.

Results

Of the 402 mothers recruited in the initial study, 305 were seeds and only 97 were referrals. Referrals were more likely to be White, highly educated, older, and privately insured (all p?0.001). Focus group participants indicated that the time required to meet other mothers was an important barrier. In the second survey we recruited 201 mothers; only 53.7% knew ?1 mother whom they could invite to the study.

Conclusions

New mothers are not easily recruited using RDS because they have a limited number of contacts who are also new mothers. Those recruited through RDS are more likely to be older, Caucasian and of high socioeconomic status, indicating it is not an effective way to recruit a representative sample of new mothers.

SUBMITTER: Carlin RF

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7853470 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Can respondent driven sampling be used to recruit new mothers? A mixed methods study in metropolitan Washington DC.

Carlin Rebecca F RF Cornwell Benjamin B Wang Jichuan J Cheng Yao Y Mathews Anita A Oden Rosalind P RP Fu Linda Y LY Moon Rachel Y RY

PloS one 20210202 2

<h4>Background</h4>Respondent driven sampling (RDS) is employed to recruit populations that are hard-to-reach, "hidden," or without a sampling frame. For new mothers (those with infants <6 months) in countries without national health care systems or registries, there is no sampling frame, and random samples may only be attained through costly strategies, e.g., random-dial calling.<h4>Objective</h4>To assess the feasibility of RDS to recruit new mothers.<h4>Methods</h4>In the initial study, we re ...[more]

PMID: 33529239

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Project description:Respondent-driven sampling is a novel variant of link-tracing sampling for estimating the characteristics of hard-to-reach groups, such as HIV prevalence in sex workers. Despite its use by leading health organizations, the performance of this method in realistic situations is still largely unknown. We evaluated respondent-driven sampling by comparing estimates from a respondent-driven sampling survey with total population data.Total population data on age, tribe, religion, socioeconomic status, sexual activity, and HIV status were available on a population of 2402 male household heads from an open cohort in rural Uganda. A respondent-driven sampling (RDS) survey was carried out in this population, using current methods of sampling (RDS sample) and statistical inference (RDS estimates). Analyses were carried out for the full RDS sample and then repeated for the first 250 recruits (small sample).We recruited 927 household heads. Full and small RDS samples were largely representative of the total population, but both samples underrepresented men who were younger, of higher socioeconomic status, and with unknown sexual activity and HIV status. Respondent-driven sampling statistical inference methods failed to reduce these biases. Only 31%-37% (depending on method and sample size) of RDS estimates were closer to the true population proportions than the RDS sample proportions. Only 50%-74% of respondent-driven sampling bootstrap 95% confidence intervals included the population proportion.Respondent-driven sampling produced a generally representative sample of this well-connected nonhidden population. However, current respondent-driven sampling inference methods failed to reduce bias when it occurred. Whether the data required to remove bias and measure precision can be collected in a respondent-driven sampling survey is unresolved. Respondent-driven sampling should be regarded as a (potentially superior) form of convenience sampling method, and caution is required when interpreting findings based on the sampling method.

Dataset Information

Can respondent driven sampling be used to recruit new mothers? A mixed methods study in metropolitan Washington DC.

Background

Objective

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Publications

Can respondent driven sampling be used to recruit new mothers? A mixed methods study in metropolitan Washington DC.

Similar Datasets

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