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. 2016 Jun;20(6):1265-74.
doi: 10.1007/s10461-015-1234-4.

A Web 2.0 and Epidemiology Mash-Up: Using Respondent-Driven Sampling in Combination with Social Network Site Recruitment to Reach Young Transwomen

Sean Arayasirikul  1   2 , Yea-Hung Chen  3 , Harry Jin  3   4   5 , Erin Wilson  3   5
Affiliations

A Web 2.0 and Epidemiology Mash-Up: Using Respondent-Driven Sampling in Combination with Social Network Site Recruitment to Reach Young Transwomen

Sean Arayasirikul et al. AIDS Behav. 2016 Jun.

Abstract

Respondent-driven sampling (RDS) peer referral has been proven to be an effective recruitment method for hard-to-reach populations; however, its application in diverse populations is limited. Recruitment occurred in two phases: RDS-only followed by development and implementation of an online social network strategy in combination with RDS peer referral (RDS + SNS). Compared to RDS-only, RDS + SNS reached a sample that was younger (χ(2) = 9.19, P = .03), more likely to identify with a non-binary gender identity (χ(2) = 10.4247, P = .03), with less housing instability (50.5 vs. 68.6 %, χ(2) = 9.0038, P = .002) and less sex work (19.7 vs. 31.4 %, χ(2) = 5.0798, P = .02). Additionally, we describe lessons learned as a result of implementing our online social network strategy. Our findings underscore the importance of integrating Internet-driven strategies to meet challenges in sample diversity and recruitment of young transwomen.

Keywords: Internet; Recruitment; Transgender; Young adults.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Participant enrollment over time by quarter, 2012-2014 *denotes recruitment period during which online social network recruitment was implemented
Figure 2
Figure 2
Peer referral chains among young transwomen in San Francisco, 2012-2014
Figure 3
Figure 3
Example of platform-specific content developed for recruitment
Figure 4
Figure 4
Example of platform-specific content developed for recruitment
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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