Evidence map›Paper›PMID 33340655›Full record

ArticleAnnals of epidemiology2021

Using factor analyses to estimate the number of female sex workers across Malawi from multiple regional sources.

Xiaoyue Maggie Niu, Amrita Rao, David Chen, Ben Sheng, Sharon Weir, Eric Umar, Gift Trapence, Vincent Jumbe, Dunker Kamba, Katherine Rucinski and 3 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Annals of epidemiology, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

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.

2 · The registry

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.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Article
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

13 authors.

Xiaoyue Maggie NiuDepartment of Statistics, Eberly College of Science, Pennsylvania State University, University Park.
Amrita RaoCenter for Public Health and Human Rights, Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD.
David ChenDepartment of Statistics, Eberly College of Science, Pennsylvania State University, University Park.
Ben ShengDepartment of Statistics, Eberly College of Science, Pennsylvania State University, University Park.
Sharon WeirDepartment of Epidemiology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.
Eric UmarDepartment of Health Systems and Policy, School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Malawi College of Medicine, Blantyre, Malawi.
Gift TrapenceCenter for Development of People, Blantyre, Malawi.
Vincent JumbeDepartment of Health Systems and Policy, School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Malawi College of Medicine, Blantyre, Malawi.
Dunker KambaCenter for Development of People, Blantyre, Malawi.
Katherine RucinskiCenter for Public Health and Human Rights, Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD.
Nikita ViswasamCenter for Public Health and Human Rights, Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD.
Stefan BaralCenter for Public Health and Human Rights, Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD.
Le BaoDepartment of Statistics, Eberly College of Science, Pennsylvania State University, University Park. Electronic address: lebao@psu.edu.

Funding

Research Services CoreP2CHD050924 · NICHD · UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL · PI KAREN B GUZZO · 2015 to 2026
$9.6M
Malawi HIV Implementation Research Scientist Training Program (MHIRST)D43TW010060 · FIC · UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL · PI MINA CHRISTINE HOSSEINIPOUR, Victor Mwapasa · 2015 to 2026
$3.8M
Statistical Models for Estimating and Projecting HIV/AIDS EpidemicsR01AI136664 · NIAID · PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY, THE · PI BAO, LE · 2017 to 2021
$3.6M
PrEP among high-risk young women in South Africa: real-world barriers to use and patterns of re-initiation and PrEP cyclingF31MH124458 · NIMH · JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY · PI RAO, AMRITA · 2020 to 2021
$86k
FIC NIH HHS D43 TW010060NIAID NIH HHS R01 AI136664NICHD NIH HHS P2C HD050924NIMH NIH HHS F31 MH124458
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeHuman immunodeficiency virus (HIV) risks are heterogeneous in nature even in generalized epidemics. However, data are often missing for those at highest risk of HIV, including female sex workers. Statistical models may be used to address data gaps where direct, empiric estimates do not exist.

methodsWe proposed a new size estimation method that combines multiple data sources (the Malawi Biological and Behavioral Surveillance Survey, the Priorities for Local AIDS Control Efforts study, and the Malawi Demographic Household Survey). We used factor analysis to extract information from auxiliary variables and constructed a linear mixed effects model for predicting population size for all districts of Malawi.

resultsOn average, the predicted proportion of female sex workers among women of reproductive age across all districts was about 0.58%. The estimated proportions seemed reasonable in comparing with a recent study Priorities for Local AIDS Control Efforts II (PLACE II). Compared with using a single data source, we observed increased precision and better geographic coverage.

conclusionsWe illustrate how size estimates from different data sources may be combined for prediction. Applying this approach to other subpopulations in Malawi and to countries where size estimate data are lacking can ultimately inform national modeling processes and estimate the distribution of risks and priorities for HIV prevention and treatment programs.

Indexed as

Sex WorkersFactor Analysis, StatisticalFemaleHIV InfectionsHumansMalawiFemale sex workersHIVMalawiPredictionSize estimation

Identifiers

PMID33340655
PMCPMC7901797

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.