Assessing the feasibility of a life history calendar to measure HIV risk and health in older South Africans.

Journal: PloS one

Volume: 15

Issue: 1

Year of Publication: 2020

Affiliated Institutions:  Department of Public Health, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, United States of America. School of Public Health, University of the Western Cape, Belville, South Africa. Department of Psychology, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebraska, United States of America. Department of Sociology, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey, United States of America.

Abstract summary 

Life history calendars capture patterns of behavior over time, uncovering transitions and trajectories. Despite the growing numbers of older persons living with HIV in southern Africa, little is known about how HIV testing and risk unfold in this population. Operationalizing a life course approach with the use of an innovative Testing and Risk History Calendar [TRHC], we collected pilot data on older South Africans' risk and HIV testing. We found older persons were able to provide (1) reference points to facilitate recall over a 10-year period, (2) specifics about HIV tests during that decade, and (3) details that contextualize the testing data, such as living arrangements, relationships, and health status. Interviewer debriefing sessions after each interview captured information on context and links across domains. On a larger scale, the TRHC has potential to reveal pathways between sexual behavior, HIV testing and risk perception, and health at older ages.

Authors & Co-authors:  Schatz Enid E Knight Lucia L Belli Robert F RF Mojola Sanyu A SA

Study Outcome 

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Statistics
Citations :  Belli RF, Stafford FP, Alwin DF. Calendar and Time Diary Methods in Life Course Research. SAGE Publications Inc; 2009. 361 p.
Authors :  4
Identifiers
Doi : e0226024
SSN : 1932-6203
Study Population
Male,Female
Mesh Terms
Feasibility Studies
Other Terms
Study Design
Cross Sectional Study
Study Approach
Country of Study
South Africa
Publication Country
United States