GAPSS 2004 - New Zealand Aids Foundation

Characteristics of the sampleCharacteristics of the sampleOverall, 1236 questionnaires were completed and placed in the secure return boxes in 2004.Sixteen participants did not answer the majority of the questions and these responses havebeen removed, leaving 1220 questionnaires that were included in the analysis. Thisrepresents a 50% increase in the number of questionnaires completed compared to 2002,and reflects a more extensive recruitment strategy used in the follow-up survey.Composition of the sample and response rateThe majority of the 1220 respondents in 2004 were recruited from the Big Gay Out fair day(68.3%) (Fig 4). In general, the sources of recruitment in 2004 mirrored those in the inauguralsurvey (Table 1).Table 1. Responses by site of recruitmentand surveyFigure 4. Composition of the sample (2004)2002 2004Site n % n %Big Gay Out 577 71.1 833 68.3Gay bars 96 11.8 164 13.4Saunas/sex-on-site139 17.1 223 18.3Total 812 100.0 1220 100.0Big GayOut68.3%Saunas,sex-on-sitevenues18.3%Gay bars13.4%The response rate was determined from records kept by the recruitment staff, who filled in aschedule noting whether men who were approached agreed to participate, declined, hadalready completed a survey, were not eligible, or were not capable of completing aquestionnaire (e.g. were obviously intoxicated). Even though there were more recruitmentstaff at the Big Gay Out in 2004, the volume of participants at the Big Gay Out in 2004 waseven higher than anticipated and the recruitment staff were unable to keep complete recordsof response rates for this site. Given the higher levels of participation as well as other factors,the researchers believe that the response rate from the Big Gay Out was equivalent to 2002,and estimate it to be around 82% (Saxton, 2004).Complete response rates for the other two sites were however able to be kept. The responserate for the saunas/sex-on-site venues remained about the same: 71% compared to 73% in2002; but the response rate for gay bars was down: 62% compared to 76% in 2002. Thelower rate recorded for the gay bars might be partially explained by the extension of hoursused to recruit men in these sites, thus raising the overall numbers of participants from gaybars (a 71% increase and the highest proportional increase for any site type) but lowering therate at which men were happy to participate (rates tended to drop when the site became veryGAPSS 2004: Findings from the Gay Auckland Periodic Sex Survey 17