Pivots and Partnerships: Successes, Challenges, and Lessons Learned From Conducting Research During a Global Pandemic

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Sociology
• Women's Health

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic presented unique challenges for research involving vulnerable populations.
• Women in the perinatal period experiencing intimate partner violence (IPV) are a particularly vulnerable group requiring sensitive research approaches.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the participant recruitment process for a longitudinal, mixed-methods study involving perinatal women with a history of IPV during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• To identify necessary revisions and redesigns of recruitment strategies due to pandemic-related challenges.

Main Methods:

• Longitudinal, mixed-methods study design.
• Focus on participant recruitment strategies for a vulnerable population (perinatal women with IPV history) during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Iterative revision and redesign of recruitment efforts based on initial outcomes.

Main Results:

• Initial recruitment strategies needed significant adaptation to effectively reach and engage the target population amidst the pandemic.
• Flexibility and responsiveness were crucial in modifying recruitment approaches.
• The study encountered challenges related to the unique circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic and the specific vulnerabilities of the participants.

Conclusions:

• Effective recruitment of vulnerable populations during crises like the COVID-19 pandemic requires adaptive and flexible strategies.
• Lessons learned from this study can inform recruitment for other vulnerable groups facing community-level trauma.
• Methodological adaptations are essential for maintaining research continuity with at-risk populations during public health emergencies.