Online sexual health survey implementation: Practical lessons from a comparative, mixed-methods analysis of 30 countries
Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Online surveys are potentially useful for sexual and reproductive health. However, there are many persistent problems related to online sexual and reproductive health surveys. This study aims to understand online recruitment, dissemination and implementation as part of the International Sexual Health And REproductive health (I-SHARE) consortium online sexual health survey. This study used a mixed-methods, cross-sectional, multi-country design. We used survey data from the I-SHARE study and organised a separate implementation survey completed by I-SHARE country leads. A total of 24,004 participants in 30 countries responded to the I-SHARE survey. All countries implemented the I-SHARE survey online and most (n = 27, 90%) used convenience sampling. Social media promotion (n = 27, 90%), and partner organisations sharing (n = 21, 70%) were the most common recruitment methods. Twenty-nine countries responded to the implementation survey. We identified three themes related to online survey implementation: (1) Adaptation and flexibility highlighted research teams' responsiveness to rapidly changing contexts; (2) Better together: Partnerships illustrated the importance of multi-sectoral collaboration; and (3) Same but different: the heterogeneity of countries captured the ongoing tension between creating a standardised tool while honouring countries' unique socio-health climates and responses to the unfolding pandemic. This data demonstrates the potential for using online sexual health surveys in diverse settings. Our study suggests the need for greater consideration of bias related to communication, especially the digital divide, when designing and implementing online surveys.
Source: PLoS ONE
Language: English
Subfield: Sociology and Political Science
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,382
Funders: Martin Luther Christian University, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Research to Prevent Blindness, Alexander von Humboldt-Stiftung, Facebook, Osteoporosis Canada, Wellcome Trust, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Ministry of Science and Technology, Pakistan, National Institute for Health and Care Research, Baily Thomas Charitable Fund, Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, Volkswagen Foundation, Japan Science and Technology Corporation, Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Förderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung, University of Queensland, Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo, National Natural Science Foundation of China, ZonMw, Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung, Cancerfonden, Generalitat de Catalunya, Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt, Ministero della Salute, National Research Foundation of Korea, Agenzia Spaziale Italiana, Vetenskapsrådet, Tehran University of Medical Sciences and Health Services, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación, Linnéuniversitetet, Sächsische Aufbaubank, Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Promedica Stiftung, NOMIS Stiftung, University Grants Commission- Nepal, Alzheimer Nederland, Priority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions, Provincia autonoma di Bolzano - Alto Adige, Sichuan Provincial Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Washington Sea Grant, University of Washington, Agricultural Research Service, Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, Agència de Gestió d'Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, European Regional Development Fund, Earmarked Fund for China Agriculture Research System, National Key Research and Development Program of China, National Institute on Aging, National Institute of General Medical Sciences, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Division of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, HORIZON EUROPE Health, HORIZON EUROPE European Research Council
OpenAlex ID: W7163421154