The art of collecting reproductive health-related information in patriarchal communities

In patriarchal communities, where women’s voices may be suppressed by men’s dominance, the application of appropriate data collection techniques is instrumental in soliciting adequate and reliable information from both men and women, especially in reproductive health-related research. Often, women may be timid or intimidated to open up about intimate aspects of their lives in the presence of their spouses. As such, collecting information in such settings may require unique data-collection skills and techniques. However, scholarship on how data collection in such communities may be smoothly implemented to ensure the participation of men and women has been limited. Using a case study research design, lessons drawn from reflections upon a previously conducted reproductive health-related study in patriarchal communities of Western Uganda are explained. Lessons learned cover procedural research technicalities and practicalities that showcase the art of collecting rich information. These include employing various methods, probing, providing a suitable environment, skillfully handling household dynamics, and using icebreakers. Passive observation, reflective techniques, and dramaturgical stage management skills, among others, facilitate equal participation, enabling the collection of relevant data. The research planning processes, peer support, and knowledge of the study area contribute to the smooth implementation of the research. To maintain reliable information, procedural data management is essential for retrieving critical data that may not have been captured. Lessons drawn are significant for young scholars to get acquainted with some essential elements for conducting research effectively in peculiar or exceptional communities, whose characteristics, if not considered relevant and reliable information, may not be collected.