Open AccessWhatsApp-Based Focus Groups Among Mexican-Origin Women in Zika Risk Area: Feasibility, Acceptability, and Data Quality
Author(s) -
Elizabeth J. Anderson,
Mary P. Koss,
Ana Lucía Castro Luque,
David O. Garcia,
Elise Lopez,
Kacey C. Ernst
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
jmir formative research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2561-326X
DOI - 10.2196/20970
Subject(s) - focus group , psychological intervention , zika virus , population , social media , participatory action research , qualitative research , medicine , medical education , the internet , psychology , internet privacy , environmental health , nursing , computer science , world wide web , business , sociology , social science , virus , marketing , virology , anthropology
Background Despite unprecedented advances in worldwide access to the internet via smartphones, barriers to engaging hard-to-reach populations remain in many methods of health research. A potential avenue for conducting qualitative research is via participatory web-based media, including the free, popular social platform WhatsApp. However, despite the clear advantages of engaging with participants over a well-established web-based platform, logistical challenges remain. Objective This study aims to report evidence on the feasibility and acceptability of WhatsApp as a method to conduct focus groups. Methods A pilot focus group was conducted with Spanish-speaking women near the US–Mexico border. The content focus was knowledge and perceived risks for exposure to the Zika virus during pregnancy. Results Evidence was obtained regarding WhatsApp as a low-cost, logistically feasible methodology that resulted in rich qualitative data from a population that is often reticent to engage in traditional research. A total of 5 participants participated in a focus group, of whom all 5 consistently contributed to the focus group chat in WhatsApp, which was conducted over 3 consecutive days. Conclusions The findings are noteworthy at a time when face-to-face focus groups, the gold standard, are risky or precluded by safe COVID-19 guidelines. Other implications include more applications and evaluations of WhatsApp for delivering one-on-one or group health education interventions on sensitive topics. This paper outlines the key steps and considerations for the replication or adaptation of methods.