There is an increasing demand for more knowledge about refugee women’s perceived reproductive health needs and need for health care services. Face-to-face cross-sectional surveys are frequently used to systematically collect information on the variables of interest.
A reproductive health survey was used for the first time in an Afghan refugee population of 134,000 refugees residing in 12 camps in the Northwest Frontier Province, Pakistan. Of 600 women contacted between the ages of 15 through 49, 472 were interviewed. The fieldwork was completed in 7 weeks despite a variety of methodological challenges.
The major challenges were identification of and access to the population, sampling design, questionnaire development, interviewer training, cross-cultural research issues, capacity building, and research translation. The procedures followed to maintain validity, reliability and generalizability are highlighted.
Refugee communities pose unique challenges for researchers attempting to use surveys because of the mobility of the population. The methodological issues posited have wider implications for researchers faced with challenging populations.
Learning Objectives: Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the presentation the audience will be able to: 1) list barriers to conducting survey research in refugee settings, 2) discuss research methodology to use among refugee populations, and 3) acknowledge local contributions.
Keywords: Survey, Underserved Populations
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.