Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 7, 2026

Collection, Isolation, and Flow Cytometric Analysis of Human Endocervical Samples
Published on: July 6, 2014
Sampling studies to estimate the HIV prevalence rate in female commercial sex workers
Ana Roberta Pati Pascom1, Célia Landmann Szwarcwald, Aristides Barbosa Júnior
1Brazilian Departament of STD, AIDS and Viral Hepatitis, Ministério da Saúde, Brazil. ana.roberta@aids.gov.br
Introduction:
We investigated sampling methods being used to estimate the HIV prevalence rate among female commercial sex workers.
Methods:
The studies were classified according to the adequacy or not of the sample size to estimate HIV prevalence rate and according to the sampling method (probabilistic or convenience).
Results:
We identified 75 studies that estimated the HIV prevalence rate among female sex workers. Most of the studies employed convenience samples. The sample size was not adequate to estimate HIV prevalence rate in 35 studies.
Discussion:
The use of convenience sample limits statistical inference for the whole group. It was observed that there was an increase in the number of published studies since 2005, as well as in the number of studies that used probabilistic samples. This represents a large advance in the monitoring of risk behavior practices and HIV prevalence rate in this group.
Related Concept Videos
Sample Proportion and Population Proportion
Sexually Transmitted Infections
Sampling Plans
Random sampling is a method where each member of the population has an equal chance of being selected for the sample. It involves selecting individuals randomly, often using random number generators or lottery-type methods. For example, when analyzing the properties of a...
Data Collection by Survey
Cluster Sampling Method
To choose a cluster sample, divide the population into clusters (groups) and then randomly select some of the clusters. All the members from these clusters are in the cluster sample. For example, if you randomly sample four departments from your...
Random Sampling Method
