ABSTRACT
Network scale-up is an indirect size estimation method, in which participants are questioned on sensitive behaviors of their social network members. Therefore, the visibility of the behavior affects the replies and estimates. Many attempts to estimate visibility have been made. The aims of this study were to review the main methods used to address visibility and to provide a summary of reported visibility factors (VFs) across populations. We systematically searched relevant databases and Google. In total, 15 studies and reports that calculated VFs were found. VF calculation studies have been applied in 9 countries, mostly in East Asia and Eastern Europe. The methods applied were expert opinion, comparison of NSU with another method, the game of contacts, social respect, and the coming-out rate. The VF has been calculated for heavy drug users, people who inject drugs (PWID), female sex workers (FSWs) and their clients, male who have sex with male (MSM), alcohol and methamphetamine users, and those who have experienced extra-/pre-marital sex and abortion. The VF varied from 1.4% in Japan to 52.0% in China for MSM; from 34.0% in Ukraine to 111.0% in China for FSWs; and from 12.0% among Iranian students to 57.0% in Ukraine for PWID. Our review revealed that VF estimates were heterogeneous, and were not available for most settings, in particular the Middle East and North Africa region, except Iran. More concrete methodologies to estimate the VF are required.
Subject(s)
Female , Humans , Male , Africa, Northern , Bias , China , Drug Users , Europe, Eastern , Expert Testimony , Asia, Eastern , Iran , Japan , Methamphetamine , Methods , Middle East , Sex Workers , UkraineABSTRACT
Network scale-up is an indirect size estimation method, in which participants are questioned on sensitive behaviors of their social network members. Therefore, the visibility of the behavior affects the replies and estimates. Many attempts to estimate visibility have been made. The aims of this study were to review the main methods used to address visibility and to provide a summary of reported visibility factors (VFs) across populations. We systematically searched relevant databases and Google. In total, 15 studies and reports that calculated VFs were found. VF calculation studies have been applied in 9 countries, mostly in East Asia and Eastern Europe. The methods applied were expert opinion, comparison of NSU with another method, the game of contacts, social respect, and the coming-out rate. The VF has been calculated for heavy drug users, people who inject drugs (PWID), female sex workers (FSWs) and their clients, male who have sex with male (MSM), alcohol and methamphetamine users, and those who have experienced extra-/pre-marital sex and abortion. The VF varied from 1.4% in Japan to 52.0% in China for MSM; from 34.0% in Ukraine to 111.0% in China for FSWs; and from 12.0% among Iranian students to 57.0% in Ukraine for PWID. Our review revealed that VF estimates were heterogeneous, and were not available for most settings, in particular the Middle East and North Africa region, except Iran. More concrete methodologies to estimate the VF are required.
Subject(s)
Female , Humans , Male , Africa, Northern , Bias , China , Drug Users , Europe, Eastern , Expert Testimony , Asia, Eastern , Iran , Japan , Methamphetamine , Methods , Middle East , Sex Workers , UkraineABSTRACT
Network scale-up is an indirect size estimation method, in which participants are questioned on sensitive behaviors of their social network members. Therefore, the visibility of the behavior affects the replies and estimates. Many attempts to estimate visibility have been made. The aims of this study were to review the main methods used to address visibility and to provide a summary of reported visibility factors (VFs) across populations. We systematically searched relevant databases and Google. In total, 15 studies and reports that calculated VFs were found. VF calculation studies have been applied in 9 countries, mostly in East Asia and Eastern Europe. The methods applied were expert opinion, comparison of NSU with another method, the game of contacts, social respect, and the coming-out rate. The VF has been calculated for heavy drug users, people who inject drugs (PWID), female sex workers (FSWs) and their clients, male who have sex with male (MSM), alcohol and methamphetamine users, and those who have experienced extra-/pre-marital sex and abortion. The VF varied from 1.4% in Japan to 52.0% in China for MSM; from 34.0% in Ukraine to 111.0% in China for FSWs; and from 12.0% among Iranian students to 57.0% in Ukraine for PWID. Our review revealed that VF estimates were heterogeneous, and were not available for most settings, in particular the Middle East and North Africa region, except Iran. More concrete methodologies to estimate the VF are required.
ABSTRACT
Situs inversus is a rare congenital disorder characterized by transposition of the major thoracic organs and all the visceral organs in the abdomen to the opposite side of the normal place in the body. Herein we present a 73-year-old woman with a history of situs inversus totalis who was referred with the complaints of abdominal pain caused by pancreatitis and large common bile duct due to choledochal sludge. Laboratory tests of serum amylase, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and alkaline phosphatase were 960 IU/L, 207 IU/L, 119 IU/L, and 263 IU/L, respectively. The radiographic evaluation confirmed situs inversus totalis, enlarged liver, and dilatation of the intra- and extrahepatic bile duct. The distal end of the common bile duct [CBD] was smoothly tapered. Endosonography also confirmed CBD microlithiasis. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography [ERCP] was done to remove microlithiasis. Our Challenge was on ERCP techniques in the position of the patient and endoscopy team. We believe ERCP can be safely performed in usual position with minor modification