Sierra Leone General Population HIV/AIDS Behavioural Surveillance Survey 2004
Sierra Leone, 2004
Identification
DDI-SLE-SSL-BSS-2004-v01
Sierra Leone General Population HIV/AIDS Behavioural Surveillance Survey 2004
BSS 2004
Titled in English and has not been translated into any language
| Name | Country code |
|---|---|
| Sierra Leone | SLE |
Other Household Health Survey [hh/hea]
Sierra Leone has just emerged from a ten- year civil war that significantly reduced the standard of living, and access to food for many people. The large scale destruction of most of the health and other social infrastructure that took place during the war intensified the problem of health service delivery and exacerbated poverty. A poor and undernourished population is easily susceptible to various diseases. The Civil conflict that ended in 2002 may have increased the risk for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission through the sexual abuse of teenage girls and women, drug abuse, migration, and displacement of the population. In addition, the problem of the spread of the disease is compounded by the low level of awareness and knowledge about HIV/AIDS particularly knowledge relating to its mode of transmission and methods of protection.
Recognizing the threat posed by the spread of HIV/AIDS, the government of Sierra Leone established the National HIV/AIDS Secretariat (NAS) as the main institution responsible for the development and implementation of effective strategies and programs geared towards the prevention and control of the spread of HIV/AIDS.
NAS commissioned Statistics Sierra Leone to undertake this first nationwide behavioural surveillance survey aimed at providing baseline data for use in designing behavioural change programs. The primary objective of this sentinel surveillance has been to provide national estimates on key indicators related to HIV prevention and infection for use in the development of a national database on HIV/AIDS in Sierra Leone.
Sierra Leone has just emerged from a ten- year civil war that significantly reduced the standard of living, and access to food for many people. The large scale destruction of most of the health and other social infrastructure that took place during the war intensified the problem of health service delivery and exacerbated poverty. A poor and undernourished population is easily susceptible to various diseases. The Civil conflict that ended in 2002 may have increased the risk for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission through the sexual abuse of teenage girls and women, drug abuse, migration, and displacement of the population. In addition, the problem of the spread of the disease is compounded by the low level of awareness and knowledge about HIV/AIDS particularly knowledge relating to its mode of transmission and methods of protection.
Recognizing the threat posed by the spread of HIV/AIDS, the government of Sierra Leone established the National HIV/AIDS Secretariat (NAS) as the main institution responsible for the development and implementation of effective strategies and programs geared towards the prevention and control of the spread of HIV/AIDS.
NAS commissioned Statistics Sierra Leone to undertake this first nationwide behavioural surveillance survey aimed at providing baseline data for use in designing behavioural change programs. The primary objective of this sentinel surveillance has been to provide national estimates on key indicators related to HIV prevention and infection for use in the development of a national database on HIV/AIDS in Sierra Leone.
The HIV/AIDS behavioural surveillance survey was carried out in 206 enumeration areas (EAs) used in the Sierra Leone Integrated Household survey (SLIHS for which comprehensive household listings existed. One locality within each selected EA was randomly selected. Using cumulative probability proportional to size sampling, fifteen and twenty households were selected for rural and urban EAs respectively. To reduce sample shortfall likely to arise due to migration, death etc. of the selected households, five replacement households were selected for both rural and urban EAs. In each selected household, one adolescent and one adult were interviewed. A total of 5374 respondents between the ages of 15-49 years were interviewed comprising 47 per cent males and 53 per cent females. In the households with more than one eligible respondent, use was made of the “Kish Selection Table” of random numbers to choose the member of the household to be interviewed. This procedure was adopted to reduce bias in the selection of respondents.
Sample survey data [ssd]
At District Level: The units of analysis for the survey were the selected households. In each household, one Adolescent and one adult "Female" (15-49) was selected.
Version
v0.1:This is the first version that has ever been documented
2004-09-08
This is the first version. No other version has been documented before.
Scope
The main scope of this study is to obtain national estimates of key indicators related to HIV prevention and infection for developing a national database on HIV/AIDS in Sierra Leone. The study is structured to: 1. Measure and explain the key process and impact indicators of HIV - related risk behaviour in the Household. 2. Complement HIV/STI surveillance data obtained from other local sources (e.g. antenatal clinics) with the data on sexual behaviour. 3. Determine the knowledge, attitudes and practices of the general population (15-49 year olds) regarding HIV/AIDS. 4. Establish a “bridge” between risk behaviour and HIV infection for the purpose of providing a rational basis for the appropriation of surveillance and intervention resources, in a manner, that will enable the SHARP to achieve the best possible impact on “new infections”, through behaviour change. 5. Analyse responses by such differentials as sex, age, and district.
| Topic | Vocabulary | URI |
|---|---|---|
| HEALTH [8] | CESSDA | http://www.nesstar.org/rdf/common |
Coverage
National Coverage
District Level
Selected EA's
Producers and sponsors
| Name | Affiliation |
|---|---|
| Statistics Sierra Leone | Government of Sierra Leone |
| National HIV/AIDS Secretariat | Government of Sierra Leone |
| Name | Affiliation | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Prof. Herbert Bobor Sama Kandeh | Statistics Sierra Leone | Survey Director, from planning to reporting writing/publication |
| Prof. Hector Morgan | College of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences, University of Sierra Leone | Coordinated data analysis/report writing |
| Mr. Philip Sahr Amara | Statictics Sierra Leone | Coordinated data analysis/report writing |
| Name | Abbreviation | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Government of Sierra Leone | GoSL | Technical Support |
| United Nations International Educational Childrens Fund | UNICEF | Provided fund |
| World Bank | WB | Provided fund |
| Name | Affiliation | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Dr Haroun R. Thuray | National HIV/AIDS Secretariat | Technical Assistance |
| Professor N. Gage | National HIV/AIDS Secretariat | Technical Assistance |
| Dr Edward Magbity | National HIV/AIDS Secretariat | Technical Assistance |
| Staff of Statistics Sierra Leone | Statistics Sierra Leone | General management |
Sampling
The sampling for the BSS study followed the methodology used in the SLIHS (see annex).The BSS study was carried out in 206 EAS used in the SLIHS for which comprehensive household listings existed. Twenty EAs used in the SLIHS were unavailable which represented a shortfall of 8.4% of the original target sample size. The number of households interviewed in the urban and rural EAs was determined base on SLIHS methodology. Fifteen rural households and twenty urban households were targeted. One locality within each selected EA was randomly selected. The total number of persons in each of the selected EAs was added cumulatively for the entire locality and a sampling interval was fixed. Using a table of random numbers a number between one and the sampling interval was selected as starting household and subsequent households were selected by adding the fixed sampling interval. To reduce sample shortfall likely to arise due to migration, death etc. of the selected households, five replacement households were selected for both rural and urban EAs.
To minimize cost it was decided to repeat the study in the EAs used for the Sierra Leone Integrated Household Survey (SLIHS, 2003/2004). The SLIHS sample was representative of all the administrative districts, chiefdoms or wards in Sierra Leone and comprehensive and updated household listings existed for this sample of EAs. It was intended to carry out the study in all the EAs used in the SLIHS. However, the study was conducted in 206 EAs. Twenty EAs used in the SLIHS were unavailable which represented a shortfall of 8.4% of the original target sample size. The number of households interviewed in the urban and rural EAs was determined based on SLIHS methodology. Fifteen rural households and twenty urban households were targeted. One locality within each selected EA was randomly selected with probability proportional to size, using the number of listed households as size measure. The total number of households in each of the selected locality was added cumulatively for the entire locality and a sampling interval was fixed. Using a table of random numbers a number between one and the sampling interval was selected as starting household and subsequent households were selected by adding the fixed sampling interval. To reduce sample shortfall likely to arise due to migration, death etc. of the selected households, five replacement households were selected for both rural and urban EAs.
In each selected household, one adolescent and one adult were interviewed. A total of 5374 respondents between the ages of 15-49 years were interviewed comprising 47 percent males and 53 percent females.
All the variables were weighted.
Survey instrument
The survey instrument that was used was the standard questionnaire, which included standardized UNAIDS indicators and also National HIV/AIDS Secretariat indicators which covered STI/HIV knowledge, risk perception, sexual and health-seeking behaviour. However, some questions were simplified or shortened and others were adjusted to suit local circumstances. The questionnaire consisted of sections about demographic characteristics of the household, Knowledge, opinions, behaviour and attitudes regarding sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV/AIDS, sexual behaviour and condom use.
Ten data operators entered the data on ten microcomputers under the close supervision of a Programmer. Information on tabulation and analysis can also be provided here. The IMPS software program was used to enter the data, which was transferred to SPSS for analysis. All available materials (data entry/tabulation/analysis programs; reports on data entry) should be listed here and provided as external resources. Data were processed in clusters, with each cluster being processed as a complete unit through each stage of data processing. Each cluster goes through the following steps: 1) Questionnaire reception 2) Office editing and coding 3) Data entry 4) Structure and completeness checking 5) Verification entry 6) Comparison of verification data 7) Back up of raw data 8) Secondary editing 9) Edited data back up
Data collection
| Start | End | Cycle |
|---|---|---|
| 2004-09-08 | 2004-09-22 | 1 |
- Face-to-face [f2f]
| Name | Affiliation | Abbreviation |
|---|---|---|
| Statistics Sierra Leone | Government of Sierra Leone | SSL |
Fourteen survey teams of four to six enumerators were recruited, each comprising of at least a female interviewer, an interviewer that can speak the dominant language in the assigned territory, a vehicle and a driver, and a Statistician as team supervisor. All team members had experience in conducting surveys of this nature either as enumerators and to enhance effective supervision, team members moved together from one selected locality to the other. However, enumerators worked independently within households. The supervisor of the team carried out field editing of all the questionnaires completed by the enumerators. There were four coordinators appointed to overseer data collection in the four regions. The coordinator made on the spot checks to ensure that data collection was properly done in his assigned region. The Statistician General and the Survey Field Director closely supervised the data collection exercise.
The training of enumerators and supervisors took place at the Sierra Leone Girl Guides Association building next to Statistics Sierra Leone. The training lasted for five days; from the 1st to the 5th of September 2004. The participants comprised of the survey field director, 4 regional coordinators, 14 supervisors and 56 enumerators. The participants were divided into groups of six persons, including five enumerators and one supervisor. Teams were further grouped by region into four (i.e. Northern, Southern, Eastern, and Western regions) with the regional coordinator acting as overseer of the group. The mock interviews were repeated in small groups to give every enumerator the chance to participate and to give the supervisors the opportunity to make classroom assessment of the enumerators. On the last day of training, the 14 teams were sent out to field test the questionnaire. The questionnaires completed by the enumerators were used to asses the competence of the enumerators. The enumerators were ranked based on their classroom participation and fieldwork. A total of 56 enumerators, 14 supervisors and 4 coordinators were employed to collect the data. Data collection lasted for two weeks from the 8th to the 22nd September 2004
Data processing
Completed questionnaires were verified and coded in Freetown by a team of five coders and one supervisor. The coding team checked each questionnaire to ensure that it was properly filled out. The questionnaires were then handed over to the Data Processing Division for processing. The IMPS software program was used to enter the data, which was transferred to SPSS for analysis.
Data appraisal
The Sierra Leone General Population HIV/AIDS Behavioural Surveillance Survey 2004 sampling frame was based on the 2003/2004 Sierra Leone Integrated Household Survey (SLIHS). The sample error was estimated at 5%.
Other forms of data appraisal included data verification and coding.
Data Access
| Name | Affiliation | URL | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statistician General | Statiatics Sierra Leone | www.statistics.sl | statistics @statistics.sl or info@statistics.sl |
| Information Dissemination Unit | Statiatics Sierra Leone | www.statistics.sl | statistics @statistics.sl or info@statistics.sl |
| Is signing of a confidentiality declaration required? | Confidentiality declaration text |
|---|---|
| yes | Statistics Sierra Leone (SSL) requires all users to keep information and data strictly confidential. In this regard, before granting access to datasets, all users have to formally agree to observe the following: 1. Not to reproduce any file(s) or portion(s) of files to which access has been granted without authorization from SSL. 2. Not to willfully identify any individual or household or establishment in the dataset. 3. To hold in strictest confidence, the identity of any individual or household or establishment that may be inadvertently revealed in any documents or discussion, or analysis. Such unintended identification revealed should be immediately brought to the attention of SSL. 4. Data obtained from SSL are protected by copyright law and therefore not for redistribution or sale. 5. Prospective clients or data users may indicate in an affidavit confidentiality of data they access. |
Statistics Sierra Leone (SSL) is required by the 2002 act of parliament to coordinate, collect, compile, analyze and disseminate high quality and objective official statistics to assist informed decision-making, and discussions within the government, business and the media, as well as the wider national and international community. Consequently as a national statistical institution in Sierra Leone, SSL has the obligation to promote data dissemination thereby facilitating national development. Making data available will enable students and the academia to conduct research works, assist investors and our donor community including Non-Governmental Organizations and individuals in taking appropriate decisions. It will also assist the Government of Sierra Leone (GoSL) to formulate appropriate policies and programs for efficient administration and nationwide development. SSL's data dissemination policy framework provides access to data through:
· Unrestricted Datasets
· Restricted Datasets
. Unrestricted Datasets
These categories of datasets are accessible by all without any payment. They are available on-line to all interested users, for planning, research and statistical purposes only.
Restricted Datasets
These categories of datasets are accessible online or in the office under certain conditions. Thus, prospective client/data users may access any data based on certain conditions set by either the government or funding agency and the Data Archive authorities at SSL.
The following terms and conditions apply:
Before being granted access to any dataset, all users have to formally agree:
-
To make no copies of any files or portions of files for which access has been granted, except those authorized by SSL.
-
Not to use any technique in an attempt to identify any person, establishment, or sampling unit.
-
To hold in strictest confidence, the identification of any establishment or individual that may be inadvertently revealed
in any document or discussion, or analysis. Such inadvertent identification revealed in her/his analysis will be
immediately brought to the attention of the SSL. -
The data and other materials will not be redistributed or sold to other individuals, institutions, or organizations without
the written agreement of SSL. -
The data will be used for statistical and scientific research purposes only.
-
The data will be used solely for reporting of aggregated information, and not for investigation of specific individuals or
organizations. -
No attempt will be made to identify respondents, and no use will be made of the identity of any person or
establishment discovered inadvertently. Any such discovery would immediately be reported to the SSL. -
No attempt will be made to produce links among datasets provided by the SSL with other datasets that could identify
individuals or organizations. -
Any books, articles, conference papers, thesis, dissertations, reports, or other publications that employ data obtained
from the SSL would cite the source of data in accordance with the citation statement provided with the dataset. -
An electronic copy of all reports and publications based on the requested data will be sent to the SSL.
11.The original collector of the data, the Data Archivists, and the relevant funding agencies bear no responsibility for use
of the data or interpretations or inferences based upon such uses.
"Sierra Leone General Population HIV/AIDS Behavioural Surveillance Survey 20004 (SLGPBSS 2004), Version 0.1 (February 2011), provided by the Statistics Sierra Leone National Data Archive. www.statistics.sl"
Disclaimer and copyrights
The authorized distributor of the data, and the relevant funding agency bear no responsibility for use of the data or for interpretations or inferences based upon such uses. (check)
(c) 2011, Statistics Sierra Leone Agency
Contacts
| Name | Affiliation | URL | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Information Dissemination Unit | Statistics Sierra Leone | statistics@statistics.sl OR info@statistics.sl | www.statistics.sl |
Metadata production
DDI-SLE-SSL-BSS-2004-v01
| Name | Abbreviation | Affiliation | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statistics Sierra Leone | SSL | Government of Sierra Leone | Documentation of Study |
2011-06-16
Metadata version
Version 1.0 (February 2011)