16th International AIDS Conference Toronto, Canada - August 13 - 18, 2006

METHODOLOGICAL ISSUES AND CHALLENGES IN RESEARCHING WITH CHILD-HEADED HOUSEHOLDS IN RURAL ZIMBABWE

Int Conf AIDS. 2006 Aug 13-18;16 Abstract No. ThAd0201

Francis-Chizororo M.
University of St Andrews, Geography and Geosciences, St Andrews, United Kingdom

ISSUES: The lack of research and appropriate methodologies to engage in research with child-headed households (CHHs) often results in child-focused rather than child-centred research designs. Researching poor, orphaned children who are marginalised and emotionally affected by the death of parents remains a major challenge especially in creating spaces that enables their voices to be heard. This paper is a personal, reflexive account on a number of methodological and ethical issues in researching "with" rather than "on" CHHs and their siblings in rural Zimbabwe.

DESCRIPTION: This paper draws on an ethnographic research project that involved living with five CHHs and their siblings in a rural community in Zimbabwe. Multiple methods including, participant observation, informal interviews with villagers, in-depth interviews, drama, essays, focus groups and participatory techniques were employed to gain an in-depth insight into household evolution, the socialisation of family members, gender roles and survival strategies.

LESSONS LEARNED: The use of an ethnographic research approach provides in-depth data. CHHs found task-centered activities including drama and essay writing more engaging and participatory compared to face-to-face in-depth interviews that often led to tears. Several issues will be detailed in the paper: it is unavoidable not to empathise with the orphaned children given the high levels of poverty and social problems they experience daily; community members practiced nepotism and exercised power over the CHHs and excluded targeted households from participating in the research and; there were dilemmas in identifying the child participants through community leaders when the research aimed to be child centred.

RECOMMENDATIONS: The fact that children are heading households calls for a need to develop sensitive and appropriate research approaches and methods that place children’s voices at the centre of research.

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2006-08-13
ThAd0201

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