Population Size Estimation of Students with High-Risk Behaviors Using the Network Scale-up Method in Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Iran (2017)

To manage a problem, knowing the size of the population associated is of great significance. In this study, direct and indirect (network scale-up [NSU]) methods were used to estimate the population size of students of the university of medical sciences with high-risk behaviors in Rafsanjan, Iran.

In this cross-sectional study, using stratified random sampling, 440 students were selected and interviewed from the target group by a standard questionnaire, with three social network size estimation, NSU, and direct methods. The frequency approach of the NSU method was used to estimate the size of groups with high-risk behaviors. Correction coefficients were applied to adjust common errors in this method.

Using the maximum likelihood method, the means of social network size (C) for male and female students were 25.71 and 24.45, respectively. Using the NSU method, the prevalence rates of alcohol drinking, extra-marital sexual relationship, and opium use were 26.57%, 15.28%, and 9.69% among male students and 3.13%, 2.89%, and 1.3% among female students, respectively. Using the direct method, the prevalence rates of alcohol drinking, extra-marital sexual relationship, and opium use were 23.2%, 14.3%, and 6.25% among male students and 2.1%, 2.8%, and 0.34% among female students, respectively.

Our results showed high-risk behaviors to have a relatively high prevalence among students of Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences (RUMS). These behaviors were more prevalent among males than females. Thus, it seems necessary to plan preventative measures against drug abuse in academic departments.