Using a crowdsourcing open call, hackathon and a modified Delphi method to develop a consensus statement and sexual health survey instrument
Authors: Kpokiri Eneyi E. , Wu Dan , Srinivas Megan L. , Anderson Juliana , Say Lale , Kontula Osmo , Ahmad Noor Ani , Morroni Chelsea , Izugbara Chimaraoke , de Visser Richard , Yaa-Oduro Georgina , Gitau Evelyn , Welbourn Alice , Andrasik Michele , Norman Wendy V. , Clifton Soazig , Gabster Amanda , Gesselman Amanda , Smith Chantal , Prause Nicole , Olumide Adesola , Erausquin Jennifer T. , Muriuki Peter , van der Straten Ariane , Nicholson Martha , O’Connell Kathryn A. , Mwoka Meggie , Bajos Nathalie , Mercer Catherine H , Gonsalves Lianne Marie , Tucker Joseph D. 
Published: October 2020

Population health surveys are rarely comprehensive in addressing sexual health, and population-representative surveys often lack standardized measures for collecting comparable data across countries. We present a sexual health survey instrument and implementation considerations for population-level sexual health research. The brief, comprehensive sexual health survey and consensus statement was developed via a multi-step process (an open call, a hackathon, and a modified Delphi process). The survey items, domains, entire instruments, and implementation considerations to develop a sexual health survey were solicited via a global crowdsourcing open call. The open call received 175 contributions from 49 countries. Following review of submissions from the open call, 18 finalists and eight facilitators with expertise in sexual health research, especially in low and middle-income countries (LMICs), were invited to a 3-day hackathon to harmonize a survey instrument. Consensus was achieved through an iterative, modified Delphi process that included three rounds of online surveys. The entire process resulted in a 19-item consensus statement and a 10-minute sexual health survey instrument. This is the first global consensus on a sexual and reproductive health survey instrument that can be used to generate cross-national comparative data in both high-income and LMICs. The inclusive process identified priority domains for improvement and can inform the design of sexual and reproductive health programs and contextually relevant data for comparable research across countries.

Key points

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National population-representative surveys assessing sexual practices, behaviours and health-related outcomes focus on high-income countries and different sexual health measures are often used.

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There is a lack of population-level representative sexual health research in low- and middle-income countries.

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Existing comparable data on sexual practices and behaviours across countries are limited due to the absence of a standardized global sexual health survey instrument.

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We report the global consensus on a set of core sexual health items within a 10-minute survey instrument that accommodates the needs and priorities of people from LMICs and various legal and cultural contexts across countries.

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The consensus process breaks new ground in terms of incorporating feedback from diverse individuals using a crowdsourcing open call and hackathon process.