[Overcoming the difficulty of recruiting young people. Keys to obtaining qualitative data in a study of sexualities]

Abstract

Sexuality is a central aspect of young's lives. It is a task of public health to understand how they are constructed with all their diversity, and to give satisfactory answers in the field of sexual health. The characteristics of qualitative research (flexible, open and reflective) provide the opportunity to design studies that are accepted and adapted to the realities of young people, especially in a sensitive field. The aim of this note is to provide clues for the recruitment of young people. In our case, the knowledge of key informants regarding the study population and the research context was essential, both to choose an approach and recruitment strategy and to adapt the data collection techniques. Finally, we used individual interviews and triangular groups opportunistically in waiting rooms of sexual health care services specialized in young people, where there was already a predisposition to talk about sexuality.

Keywords: Adulto joven; Investigación cualitativa; Qualitative research; Reproductive health services; Salud sexual; Servicios de salud reproductiva; Sexual health; Young adult.