Utilization of respondent-driven sampling among a population of child workers in the diamond-mining sector of Sierra Leone

Abstract

This article describes the implementation of respondent driven sampling (RDS) in a study conducted in Kono District, Sierra Leone. RDS was used to identify children, under the age of 18 years old, working in the diamond sector of Sierra Leone. This includes children working directly as diamond miners as well as children working in the informal sector connected to the diamond field. The article seeks to postulate that RDS is a suitable method for a rapid approach to a population that is unidentified in size and demonstrate how RDS can reach a study population within a limited period.

Keywords:

• Respondent driven sampling
• rapid approach
• diamond sector
• child workers
• Sierra Leone

Notes

1. Alluvial mining: in the riverbeds, the diamonds are harvested by sorting and washing the dug, pumped, or dredged river gravel (Smillie et al.2000).

2. Fafo Institute for Applied International Studies, Oslo.