Interviewer Training in the WHO Multi-Country Study on Women’s Health and Domestic Violence

Abstract

The importance of a sound research strategy for measuring and understanding violence against women cross-culturally is well recognized. However, the value of specialized interviewer training to attain these data is not always fully appreciated. This article describes interviewer selection and training in the World Health Organization (WHO) Multi-Country Study on Women’s Health and Domestic Violence and highlights their importance. Such training ensures high-quality data and cross-country comparability, protects the safety of respondents and interviewers, and increases the impact of the study. Moreover, women are not only willing to share experiences with trained and empathetic interviewers but also find the interview a positive experience.