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Challenges and Strategies in Conducting Population Health Research during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Experience from a Nationwide Mixed-Methods Study in Bangladesh

Author

Listed:
  • Ashraful Kabir

    (Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia)

  • Md Nazmul Karim

    (Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia)

  • Jahirul Karim

    (Directorate General of Health Services, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Dhaka 1212, Bangladesh)

  • Baki Billah

    (Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia)

Abstract

Introduction: Globally, the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic poses fundamental challenges in everyday life. Various controlling measures, including nationwide lockdowns, movement restrictions, travel bans, social distancing, and improved hygiene practices, have been widely introduced to curtail transmission of the disease. Notably, these measures have affected the execution of population health research that typically involves face-to-face data collection. This paper details a subjective reflective account of the challenges and mitigating strategies in conducting a nationwide study during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021. Challenges and strategies: The research team faced a wide range of challenges in conducting this study. The major categories of challenges were defined as follows: (i) challenges relating to the COVID-19 pandemic, such as insufficient access to field sites; (ii) challenges related to contextual factors, such as cultural and gender sensitivity and extreme weather events; and (iii) challenges related to data quality and validity. The key mitigating strategies to overcoming these challenges included engaging a local-level field supervisor, hiring data collectors from respective study sites, incorporating team members’ reviews of literature and experts’ views to develop research instruments, modifying original research instruments, organizing regular meetings and debriefing, adjusting field operation plans, building gender-sensitive teams, understanding local norms and adopting culturally appropriate dress codes, and conducting interviews in local languages. Conclusions: This paper concludes that despite several COVID-19-related challenges coupled with contextual factors, data were successfully collected through timely and successful adaptations of several mitigating strategies. The strategies adopted in this study may be useful for overcoming unforeseeable challenges in planning and conducting future population-based health research in similar circumstances elsewhere.

Suggested Citation

  • Ashraful Kabir & Md Nazmul Karim & Jahirul Karim & Baki Billah, 2023. "Challenges and Strategies in Conducting Population Health Research during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Experience from a Nationwide Mixed-Methods Study in Bangladesh," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(9), pages 1-9, April.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:9:p:5629-:d:1131896
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Raisul Akram & Abdur Razzaque Sarker & Nurnabi Sheikh & Nausad Ali & MGN Mozumder & Marufa Sultana, 2020. "Factors associated with unmet fertility desire and perceptions of ideal family size among women in Bangladesh: Insights from a nationwide Demographic and Health Survey," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(5), pages 1-17, May.
    2. Amy R. Villarosa & Lucie M. Ramjan & Della Maneze & Ajesh George, 2021. "Conducting Population Health Research during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Impacts and Recommendations," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(6), pages 1-11, March.
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