Abstract
Conducting research in hard-to-reach populations such as applicants for international protection (AIPs) brings along a number of research challenges. This is especially true for sexual violence (SV) research. We developed a study design with the intent to reach AIPs in a randomized and anonymous manner including potential illiterate respondents as well, while avoiding as much bias as possible. However, this method was developed just before the entry into force of the new European General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), upon which important new research challenges emerged. This paper describes the original study design developed to estimate SV prevalence in AIPs in Belgium. We discuss the impact of the GDPR on the recruitment strategy applied to conduct a survey on SV in a randomly selected sample of AIPs, the adapted approach to conduct the study beyond GDPR and lessons learned for future research on sensitive topics in hard-to-reach populations such as AIPs. To achieve reliable prevalence numbers and provide high-quality data on SV in AIPs while respecting the GDPR regulations, studies will require an approach that has become significantly more time consuming and resource-intensive to implement.
Highlights
Sexual violence (SV) is a major public health issue with several negative consequences impacting individuals, and larger communities and societies in general
811 AIPs had been informed about the study via the reception structures, 330 AIPs had given an answer on the website about their willingness to participate in an interview, 217 AIPs agreed to be contacted by the research team and 62 AIPs had been interviewed
Our study had to be stopped before we reached the target of 400 AIPs due to the Covid-19 containment measures taken by the Belgian government in the beginning of March 2020
Summary
Sexual violence (SV) is a major public health issue with several negative consequences impacting individuals, and larger communities and societies in general. A research project started in May 2017 with the aim of improving our UNnderstanding of the MEchanisms, NAture, MAgnitude and Impact of SV in Belgium (UN-MENAMAIS).[3]
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