%0 Journal Article
%@ 2561-326X
%I JMIR Publications
%V 5
%N 10
%P e20970
%T WhatsApp-Based Focus Groups Among Mexican-Origin Women in Zika Risk Area: Feasibility, Acceptability, and Data Quality
%A Anderson,Elizabeth
%A Koss,Mary
%A Castro Luque,Ana Lucía
%A Garcia,David
%A Lopez,Elise
%A Ernst,Kacey
%+ Department of Health Promotion Sciences, University of Arizona, 1295 N Martin Ave, Tucson, AZ, 85721, United States, 1 5205050040, andersone@email.arizona.edu
%K WhatsApp
%K synchronous text-based focus groups
%K Zika
%K Mexican-origin Latinas
%K social media
%K mHealth
%K focus groups
%K smartphones
%K mobile phone
%D 2021
%7 28.10.2021
%9 Original Paper
%J JMIR Form Res
%G English
%X 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. 
%M 34709185
%R 10.2196/20970
%U https://formative.jmir.org/2021/10/e20970
%U https://doi.org/10.2196/20970
%U http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/34709185