Hidden yet visible: methodological challenges researching sexual health in Sudanese refugee communities

Research addressing sensitive topics with people from small, minority, ethnic communities can present challenges that are difficult to address using conventional methods. This paper reports on the methodological approach used to explore sexual health knowledge, attitudes and beliefs among the Sudane...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Culture, health & sexuality health & sexuality, 2012-09, Vol.14 (8), p.911-924
Main Authors: Dean, Judith, Wollin, Judy, Stewart, Donald, Debattista, Joseph, Mitchell, Marion
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Academic communities
Adolescent
Attitude to Health - ethnology
Attitudes
Australia
Communication Barriers
Communities
Community structure
Cooperation
Cultural Competency
Cultural studies
Data collection
Educational research
Ethnic Groups
Female
Focus Groups
Health Promotion - methods
Health Services Needs and Demand - statistics & numerical data
hidden populations
Humans
Interpersonal Relations
Knowledge
Male
Methodological Problems
Online communities
Quality Assurance, Health Care - methods
Queensland - epidemiology
Refugees
Refugees - psychology
Refugees - statistics & numerical data
Reproductive health
Reproductive Health - ethnology
Research and Development
Research design
Research methods
Sex Education - methods
Sexual Behavior
Sexual behaviour
Sexual health
Social research
Sudan
Sudan - epidemiology
Sudanese
Sudanese refugees
Trust
Young Adult
Young adults
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Summary:Research addressing sensitive topics with people from small, minority, ethnic communities can present challenges that are difficult to address using conventional methods. This paper reports on the methodological approach used to explore sexual health knowledge, attitudes and beliefs among the Sudanese community in Queensland, Australia. The multiphase, mixed-method study involved young people 16 to 24 years of age participating in a written survey and semi-structured interview and focus-group discussions with the broader Queensland Sudanese community members. Community collaboration, the key factor to the success of this research, optimised the development of a research environment that built trust and facilitated access and subsequent understanding. Research conducted in partnership with the target community can address methodological challenges and produce meaningful information when researching sensitive topics with small but 'highly-visible' populations.
ISSN:1369-1058
1464-5351
DOI:10.1080/13691058.2012.709639