Skip to main content
profile image
Selected Works of Rochelle Holm
Article
Stratified Simple Random Sampling Versus Volunteer Community-Wide Sampling for Estimates of COVID-19 Prevalence
American Journal of Public Health (2023)
  • Rachel J. Keith
  • Rochelle Holm, University of Louisville
  • Alok R. Amraotkar
  • Megan M. Bezold
  • J. Michael Brick
  • Adrienne M. Bushau-Sprinkle
  • Krystal T. Hamorsky
  • Kathleen T. Kitterman
  • Kenneth E. Palmer
  • Ted Smith
  • Ray A Yeager
  • Aruni Bhatnagar
Link Find in your library
Abstract
Objectives. To evaluate community-wide prevalence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus
2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection using stratified simple random sampling.
Methods. We obtained data for the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in Jefferson County, Kentucky, from adult
random (n 5 7296) and volunteer (n 5 7919) sampling over 8 waves from June 2020 through August
2021. We compared results with administratively reported rates of COVID-19.
Results. Randomized and volunteer samples produced equivalent prevalence estimates (P < .001), which
exceeded the administratively reported rates of prevalence. Differences between them decreased as
time passed, likely because of seroprevalence temporal detection limitations.
Conclusions. Structured targeted sampling for seropositivity against SARS-CoV-2, randomized or
voluntary, provided better estimates of prevalence than administrative estimates based on incident
disease. A low response rate to stratified simple random sampling may produce quantified disease
prevalence estimates similar to a volunteer sample.
Public Health Implications. Randomized targeted and invited sampling approaches provided better
estimates of disease prevalence than administratively reported data. Cost and time permitting, targeted
sampling is a superior modality for estimating community-wide prevalence of infectious disease,
especially among Black individuals and those living in disadvantaged neighborhoods.
Keywords
  • Covid-19,
  • disease prevalence estimates,
  • Jefferson County,
  • Kentucky
Disciplines
Publication Date
July, 2023
DOI
10.2105/AJPH.2023.307303
Citation Information
Rachel J. Keith, Rochelle Holm, Alok R. Amraotkar, Megan M. Bezold, et al.. "Stratified Simple Random Sampling Versus Volunteer Community-Wide Sampling for Estimates of COVID-19 Prevalence" American Journal of Public Health Vol. 113 Iss. 7 (2023) p. 768 - 777
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/rochelle-holm/67/