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Implementing Respondent-Driven Sampling to Recruit Women Who Exchange Sex in New York City: Factors Associated with Recruitment and Lessons Learned

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Abstract

Respondent-driven sampling (RDS) relies on productive peer recruitment to capture hidden populations. Domestic studies have identified characteristics of productive recruitment among RDS samples of men who have sex with men and persons who use drugs, but not of women who exchange sex, a group vulnerable to HIV infection. We examined sociodemographic-, behavioral-, exchange-sex-, and protocol-related factors associated with recruitment among seeds (n = 25) and peers (n = 297) in the 2016 New York City National HIV Behavioral Surveillance Study cycle focused on women who exchange sex. Recruiter productivity was significantly associated with not having been recently incarcerated, lower rate of HIV testing, and larger exchange sex networks among seeds, and with HIV-prevention services usage among peers. We describe challenges and lessons learned from implementing RDS in this population. Our study identifies seed characteristics and protocol improvements researchers can utilize when implementing future RDS studies among women who exchange sex.

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Acknowledgements

This work was made possible through the support of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [6NU62PS005086] National HIV Behavioral Surveillance (NHBS) system. We would like to thank our CDC colleagues, field staff, and study participants.

Funding

This study was funded by CDC (6NU62PS005086).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. HIV Epidemiology and Field Services Program, Bureau of HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, 42-09 28th Street, Queens, New York, NY, 11101, USA

    Sidney A. Carrillo, Alexis V. Rivera & Sarah L. Braunstein

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  1. Sidney A. Carrillo
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  2. Alexis V. Rivera
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  3. Sarah L. Braunstein
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Correspondence to Sidney A. Carrillo.

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Carrillo, S.A., Rivera, A.V. & Braunstein, S.L. Implementing Respondent-Driven Sampling to Recruit Women Who Exchange Sex in New York City: Factors Associated with Recruitment and Lessons Learned. AIDS Behav 24, 580–591 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-019-02485-w

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