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

• 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
• ISSN: 1369-1058; 1464-5351
• DOI: 10.1080/13691058.2012.709639

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.