A Pilot of Audio-Computer Assisted Self-Interview for Youth Reproductive Health Research in Vietnam

Linh C Le, Hanoi School of Public Health
Robert Blum, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
Robert J. Magnani, Tulane University
Hoa M Do, Hanoi School of Public Health

This study aims to assess the level of reporting of sensitive behaviors/events using three methods of survey data collection: face-to-face interviewer-administered (IA), paper-and-pencil self-administered (SA) and AudioComputerAssisted Self Interview (ACASI). A randomized experiment was undertaken in a suburb of Hanoi, with 2,394 youth ages 15 to 24 years. Respondents were randomly assigned to one of three interviewing methods. ACASI revealed higher prevalence rates for sensitive and stigmatized behaviors. Among those in the pencil and paper survey group it is estimated that 12.9% of unmarried males and 3.4% of unmarried females have had premarital sex. The rate found by using ACASI is higher at 17.1% in males and 4.5% in females. Using ACASI, unmarried males also reported higher levels of risky sexual relations: 7.8% confirmed visiting sex workers (versus 1.2% in SA group and 3.9% in IA group). Additionally, ACASI respondents reported having had more sex partners than other groups.