Participatory health research under COVID-19 restrictions in Bauchi State, Nigeria: Feasibility of cellular teleconferencing for virtual discussions with community groups in a low-resource setting

Abstract

Introduction During the COVID-19 pandemic, researchers have used Internet-based applications to conduct virtual group meetings, but this is not feasible in low-resource settings. In a community health research project in Bauchi State, Nigeria, COVID-19 restrictions precluded planned face-to-face meetings with community groups. We tested the feasibility of using cellular teleconferencing for these meetings. Methods In an initial exercise, we used cellular teleconferencing to conduct six male and six female community focus group discussions. Informed by this experience, we conducted cellular teleconferences with 10 male and 10 female groups of community leaders, in different communities, to discuss progress with previously formulated action plans. Ahead of each teleconference call, a call coordinator contacted individual participants to seek consent and confirm availability. The coordinator connected the facilitator, the reporter, and the participants on each conference call, and audio-recorded the call. Each call lasted less than 1 h. Field notes and debriefing meetings with field teams supported the assessment of feasibility of the teleconference meetings. Results Cellular teleconferencing was feasible and inexpensive. Using multiple handsets at the base allowed more participants in a call. Guidelines for facilitators and participants developed after the initial meetings were helpful, as were reminder calls ahead of the meeting. Connecting women participants was challenging. Facilitators needed extra practice to support group interactions without eye contact and body language signals. Conclusions With careful preparation and training, cellular teleconferencing can be a feasible and inexpensive method of conducting group discussions in a low-resource setting.

Impact-Oriented Dialogue for Culturally Safe Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health in Bauchi State, Nigeria: Protocol for a Codesigned Pragmatic Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial

“…Research team members will visit the communities monthly to liaise with community leaders, document progress, and help to resolve challenges. Follow up will be virtual if necessary; we have successfully used cellular teleconferencing in Bauchi communities [ 72 ]. Adolescent girls and boys will meet separately; we will explore ways to share ideas between female and male groups, for example, creating visual media such as cellphilms [ 73 ].…”