My SciELO
Services on Demand
Journal
Article
Indicators
- Cited by SciELO
- Access statistics
Related links
- Cited by Google
- Similars in SciELO
- Similars in Google
Share
Revista Española de Salud Pública
On-line version ISSN 2173-9110Print version ISSN 1135-5727
Abstract
LORENZO ORTEGA, Rocío et al. Indirect methods to estimate hidden population. Rev. Esp. Salud Publica [online]. 2017, vol.91, e201710039. Epub Oct 20, 2017. ISSN 2173-9110.
Estimating the prevalence of the so-called “hidden populations” can be challenging, because the identification of its members is difficult due to their socially sanctionable or illegal behaviors. This article provides a critical review of the most widely used methods for estimating the size of a hard-to-reach population. All are indirect methods, based on incomplete data sources. Depending on the available data, one method can be more appropriate than another. Besides, each method must fulfill a number of requirements, and each one may be subject to specific risk of bias. To choose the most suitable method, an accurate evaluation of the available data is necessary, and. if possible several methods should be used simultaneously to be able to compare the results and to critically evaluate if these results fit with the reality.
Keywords : Vulnerable Populations; Epidemiologic Study Characteristics as Topic; Epidemiological Monitoring; Data Collection.