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Conducting Violence and Mental Health Research with Female Sex Workers during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Ethical Considerations, Challenges, and Lessons Learned from the Maisha Fiti Study in Nairobi, Kenya

Author

Listed:
  • Mary Kung’u

    (Partners for Health and Development in Africa, Nairobi P.O. Box 3737-00506, Kenya)

  • Rhoda Kabuti

    (Partners for Health and Development in Africa, Nairobi P.O. Box 3737-00506, Kenya)

  • Hellen Babu

    (Partners for Health and Development in Africa, Nairobi P.O. Box 3737-00506, Kenya)

  • on behalf of The Maisha Fiti Study Champions

    (Membership of the Maisha Fiti Study Champions is provided in the Acknowledgments.)

  • Chrispo Nyamweya

    (Partners for Health and Development in Africa, Nairobi P.O. Box 3737-00506, Kenya)

  • Monica Okumu

    (Partners for Health and Development in Africa, Nairobi P.O. Box 3737-00506, Kenya)

  • Anne Mahero

    (Partners for Health and Development in Africa, Nairobi P.O. Box 3737-00506, Kenya)

  • Zaina Jama

    (Partners for Health and Development in Africa, Nairobi P.O. Box 3737-00506, Kenya)

  • Polly Ngurukiri

    (Partners for Health and Development in Africa, Nairobi P.O. Box 3737-00506, Kenya)

  • Emily Nyariki

    (Partners for Health and Development in Africa, Nairobi P.O. Box 3737-00506, Kenya)

  • Mamtuti Panneh

    (Global Health and Development, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London WC1H 9SH, UK)

  • Pooja Shah

    (Global Health and Development, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London WC1H 9SH, UK)

  • Alicja Beksinska

    (Global Health and Development, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London WC1H 9SH, UK)

  • Erastus Irungu

    (Partners for Health and Development in Africa, Nairobi P.O. Box 3737-00506, Kenya)

  • Wendy Adhiambo

    (Partners for Health and Development in Africa, Nairobi P.O. Box 3737-00506, Kenya)

  • Peter Muthoga

    (Partners for Health and Development in Africa, Nairobi P.O. Box 3737-00506, Kenya)

  • Rupert Kaul

    (Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S1A8, Canada)

  • Helen A. Weiss

    (MRC International Statistics and Epidemiology Group, Department for Infectious Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, UK)

  • Janet Seeley

    (Global Health and Development, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London WC1H 9SH, UK)

  • Joshua Kimani

    (Partners for Health and Development in Africa, Nairobi P.O. Box 3737-00506, Kenya
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Tara S. Beattie

    (Global Health and Development, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London WC1H 9SH, UK
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

Abstract

Conducting violence and mental health research during the COVID-19 pandemic with vulnerable groups such as female sex workers (FSWs) required care to ensure that participants and the research team were not harmed. Potential risks and harm avoidance needed to be considered as well as ensuring data reliability. In March 2020, COVID-19 restrictions were imposed in Kenya during follow-up data collection for the Maisha Fiti study ( n = 1003); hence data collection was paused. In June 2020, the study clinic was re-opened after consultations with violence and mental health experts and the FSW community. Between June 2020 and January 2021, data were collected in person and remotely following ethical procedures. A total of 885/1003 (88.2%) FSWs participated in the follow-up behavioural–biological survey and 47/47 (100%) participated in the qualitative in-depth interviews. A total of 26/885 (2.9%) quantitative surveys and 3/47 (6.4%) qualitative interviews were conducted remotely. Researching sensitive topics like sex work, violence, and mental health must guarantee study participants’ safety and privacy. Collecting data at the height of COVID-19 was crucial in understanding the relationships between the COVID-19 pandemic, violence against women, and mental health. Relationships established with study participants during the baseline survey—before the pandemic—enabled us to complete data collection. In this paper, we discuss key issues involved in undertaking violence and mental health research with a vulnerable population such as FSWs during a pandemic. Lessons learned could be useful to others researching sensitive topics such as violence and mental health with vulnerable populations.

Suggested Citation

  • Mary Kung’u & Rhoda Kabuti & Hellen Babu & on behalf of The Maisha Fiti Study Champions & Chrispo Nyamweya & Monica Okumu & Anne Mahero & Zaina Jama & Polly Ngurukiri & Emily Nyariki & Mamtuti Panneh , 2023. "Conducting Violence and Mental Health Research with Female Sex Workers during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Ethical Considerations, Challenges, and Lessons Learned from the Maisha Fiti Study in Nairobi, Keny," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(11), pages 1-12, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:11:p:5925-:d:1153656
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Karen Bell & Eldin Fahmy & David Gordon, 2016. "Quantitative conversations: the importance of developing rapport in standardised interviewing," Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, Springer, vol. 50(1), pages 193-212, January.
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