@article{ref1,
title="Methodological considerations in using the Network Scale Up (NSU) for the estimation of risky behaviors of particular age-gender groups: an example in the case of intentional abortion",
journal="PLoS one",
year="2019",
author="Zamanian, Maryam and Zolala, Farzaneh and Haghdoost, Ali Akbar and Haji-Maghsoudi, Saeide and Heydari, Zeynab and Baneshi, Mohammad Reza",
volume="14",
number="6",
pages="e0217481-e0217481",
abstract="BACKGROUND: Network Scale Up (NSU) is a promising tool for size estimation of sensitive issues. In this study we investigated the important methodological considerations to employ this method for estimating behaviors, such as abortion, which happens in a particular age-gender group. <br><br>METHODS: We recruited 1250 males and 1250 females aged 18 to 50. Abortion rate was calculated through direct question and NSU methodology. The NSU was applied on three sub-samples (male, female and aggregate). Integrating replies to 25 reference groups, we estimated the network size (C) of respondents and its age-gender structure. To calculate the part of network that is subject to abortion, we compared two approaches: proportional and data based. The Visibility Factor (VF) was calculated through 222 females who had abortion. Direct estimate was considered as gold standard. <br><br>RESULTS: Using C's derived from proportional method, the Relative Bias (RB) in the male and female samples was 33% and 84%. Applying the data-based C's, the RB in the gender-specific and aggregate samples was 5% and 2%. <br><br>CONCLUSION: The proportional method overestimates the prevalence. The data-based method to calculate the C is superior. The determination of the age-sex distribution of the network and the specific VF is essential.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1932-6203",
doi="10.1371/journal.pone.0217481",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0217481"
}