A Systematic review protocol of surveys accumulating biological and behavioural data of Female Sex Workers around the World using Respondent-driven sampling (RDS) practice (Preprint)

BACKGROUND The Respondent-driven Sampling (RDS) method is a non-probability sampling method that approximates probability sample design, allowing for extrapolating results to the target population. This method is generally used to address the limitations of studying hidden or hard-to-reach populations. OBJECTIVE The objective of the present article is to describe the initiation, implementation, and complications that arise during RDS on female sex workers (FSWs) around the world. METHODS Behavioural and biological data of FSWs collected through RDS was mined from peer-reviewed articles, published during 2010-2022. All available articles will be retrieved using PubMed, Google Scholar, Cochrane database, Scopus, Science Direct, and the Global Health network. Using the search terms “respondent-driven” or respondent-driven sampling” or “RDS” and “Female Sex workers” or “FSW” or “sex workers” or “SW”. The data will be extracted through data extraction form as per STROBE-RDS (Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology for Respondent-Driven Sampling) guidelines and will be arranged into six sub-tables based on WHO classifications of regions. Risk of bias and quality assessment will be performed with the help of the Newcastle - Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale. RESULTS The future systematic review, will be generated from the present protocol, provide evidence in support or against the hypothesis that the application of RDS technique is most suitable approach to recruiting participants from “hidden” or “hard to reach” populations. CONCLUSIONS The future systematic review, according to the present protocol will help researchers, policymakers and service providers to improve RDS methods for the surveillance of any key population by providing a minimum set of parameters of specific methodological, analytical, and testing procedures including RDS methods to evaluate the overall quality of any RDS survey. CLINICALTRIAL International Prospective Register for Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) number CRD42022346470.