Methodological Challenges in Conducting Sexual and Reproductive Health Research Among Young Males in Bangladesh: Reflections From a Nationwide Mixed Methods Study

Abstract

Applied mixed methods research for sexual and reproductive health (SRH) issues involves multiple researchers and presents numerous responsibilities as well as unforeseen challenges. These challenges together with the often ignored and under-researched area of male sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) in Bangladesh require researchers to navigate cultural stigmas associated with SRH and hostile political situations across the country. We conducted a nationwide mixed methods research study to explore the SRHR of male youth. This study is the first of its kind in the context of Bangladesh. The aim of this paper is to describe the challenges experienced and mitigation strategies undertaken to conduct research on the SRHR of young males in Bangladesh. A group of experts, practitioners, service delivery staff and researchers were consulted during the tool development stage. However, challenges in obtaining permission from community members, explanation of SRH-specific topics, and establishing respondents’ trust persisted throughout the study. Mitigation strategies included spending time outside of scheduled interview hours and making repeated visits to respondents to establish trust. These strategies allowed for honest discussions over time and served to assure our study respondents that the confidentiality of their data would be protected. In addition to sourcing letters from official authorities, we had conversations with community influential people such as religious leaders and political representatives about the nature of our study and explained to them the implications of the study for the future of young men’s health. Moreover, we highlight the political issues of the time and shed light on the ad hoc measures taken to overcome the challenges we faced. These reflections can provide valuable insights for researchers conducting SRHR-related studies in similar social and political settings.