What is 'sex' exactly? Using cognitive interviewing to improve the validity of sexual behaviour reporting among young people in rural Zimbabwe.

Self-reporting of sensitive data is often unreliable, particularly when questions are asked about culturally or socially censured behaviours. This study aimed to improve the validity of questionnaire responses through cognitive interviewing of young people in Zimbabwe to better understand their underlying thought processes when responding to sexual behaviour questions. A questionnaire was developed in English and translated into Shona.