Challenges in implementation of a project on the impact of COVID-19 on sexual and reproductive health in Latvia

Sexual and reproductive health (SRH) is a very sensitive topic for many. Population-based household sampling is expensive and in 2020 was impossible because of COVID-19. The aim of the study was to analyze the possibilities of the SRH online survey and qualitative research during COVID-19 restrictions. The online survey and qualitative research (in-depth interviews and focus group discussions) were conducted from July to October 2020 as a part of the international multi-country study I-SHARE Survey in the time of COVID-19 and the state research project “Impact of COVID-19 on health care system and public health in Latvia; ways in preparing health sector for future epidemic” (VPP-COVID-2020/1-0011). Survey was carried out through an online link on the RSU webpage. It was disseminated through different national networks as well as Facebook groups, Twitter and Instagram. Quantitative data were summarized and analyzed using MS Excel and IBM SPSS 26.0. Main challenges in carrying out online survey were: (1) translation of a number of SRH terms of the internationally used questionnaire from English to Latvian and Russian; 2) most of the responders (1173) were women (82.35%), 18-32 years old ones (59%) and those living in the capital city Riga (62%). 3) despite promotion of the study through perinatal centers and other health care institutions and webpages targeting information to pregnant women, only 7.2 % of participating women were pregnant. Several focus group discussions were carried out using the zoom platform. Most of the quantitative and qualitative research results confirmed the same trends, except the results related to the influence of COVID-19 restrictions on the intimate partners violence. Good promotion of the online survey results in high numbers of participants but does not cover all population groups. One can rely on the results of the online survey if confirmed by qualitative research data.