Trial reportPloS one2019
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.
Trial report in PloS one, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
7 citing papers in PubMed.
- A Decade of Discovery: Methodological Innovation, Capacity Building, and Global Leadership in Hidden Population Research in Iran.Medical journal of the Islamic Republic of Iran · 2026Article
- How Visible is the Sex Work in Iran?Medical journal of the Islamic Republic of Iran · 2025Article
- Measure of Personal Network Size Using the Known Population Method: A Methodological Guide.American journal of public health · 2022Article
- Estimating the prevalence of high-risk behaviors using network scale-up method in medical university students.Journal of education and health promotion · 2022Article
- Population Size Estimation of Drug Users in Isfahan City (Iran) Using Network Scale-up Method in 2018.Addiction & health · 2021Article
- Using Social Networks to Estimate the Number of COVID-19 Cases: The Incident (Hidden COVID-19 Cases Network Estimation) Study Protocol.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2021Article
- Validity and Reliability of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Related Stigma Questionnaire in Persian.Journal of the International Association of Providers of AIDS CareArticle
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Authors and funding
6 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundNetwork 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.
methodsWe 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.
resultsUsing 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%.
conclusionThe 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.
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