Medical College of Wisconsin
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Low numeracy predicts reduced accuracy of retrospective reports of frequency of sexual behavior. AIDS Behav 2010 Dec;14(6):1320-9

Date

07/20/2010

Pubmed ID

20640594

Pubmed Central ID

PMC4072320

DOI

10.1007/s10461-010-9761-5

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-79952278198 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   16 Citations

Abstract

Assessment of the frequency of sexual behavior relies on participants' ability to arithmetically aggregate information over time and across partners. This study examines the effect of numeracy (arithmetic skills) on the accuracy of retrospective reports of sexual behavior. For 91 days, the participants completed daily reports about their sexual activity. Participants then completed a survey on sexual behavior over the same period. The discrepancies between the survey-based and the diary-based measures of frequency of vaginal and anal intercourse were evaluated. Multiple regression analysis showed that the discrepancy between retrospective and diary measurements of sexual intercourse increased with lower numeracy (P = 0.026), lower education (P = 0.001), aggregate question format compared to partner-by-partner format (P = 0.031) and higher frequency of intercourse occasions (P < 0.001). Lower numeracy led to a 1.5-fold increase (adjusted mean = 14.1-20.9) in the discrepancy for those using the aggregate question format and a 2.0-fold increase (adjusted mean = 3.7-7.6) for those using the partner-by-partner format.

Author List

McAuliffe TL, DiFranceisco W, Reed BR

Authors

Wayne J. DiFranceisco Research Scientist II in the Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Timothy L. McAuliffe PhD Professor in the Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine department at Medical College of Wisconsin




MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Adult
Aged
Attitude to Health
Data Collection
Educational Status
Female
HIV Infections
Humans
Income
Male
Mathematics
Middle Aged
Prospective Studies
Regression Analysis
Retrospective Studies
Risk Factors
Risk-Taking
Self Report
Sexual Behavior
Sexual Partners
Surveys and Questionnaires
Young Adult