Marseille 2007
| Abstract #506 - METHODOLOGICAL AND ETHICAL DILEMMAS: RESEARCH WITH PERSONS LIVING WITH HIV/AIDSA WORKSHOP | ||||
|
Session: 15.1: Methodological and ethical dilemmas research with persons living with AIDS (Satellite 6) on Monday @ 13.00-14.00 in 5 Chaired by George Palatiiyil, Dina Sidhva Authors: Presenting Author: Dr George Palattiyil - University of Strathclyde, United Kingdom |
||||
| Additional Authors: Dr Dina Sidhva, | ||||
| Aim: This workshop proposes to examine the varied methodological and ethical dilemmas that arose out of the researchers studies across two contexts. The first study Family Caring in HIV/AIDS: Experiences, Coping and Mental Health examined the life experiences of family caregivers of positive persons across two contexts: Kerala and Scotland. While the second study entitled Living with HIV/AIDS: Turning points, transitions and transformations in the lives of Women from Bombay (India) and Edinburgh (Scotland) focused on the aspect of change in the lives of HIV positive women. The experiences of researching the lives of positive women and family carers of persons living with HIV/AIDS in two varying cultural contexts pointed to the many methodological and ethical dilemmas involved in doing research with sensitive subjects for both the researched and the researchers. | ||||
| Method / Issue: Researching the lives of persons who are infected or affected by HIV/AIDS requires particular attention to ethical issues, because the research involves an unusual element of risk to the respondents. Such research addresses sensitive information that is potentially stigmatising if exposed, and therefore participation has the potential to harm persons who are already vulnerable. The sensitive nature of the subject, together with the vulnerability of the respondents, brings ethical issues of confidentiality, mutual respect, and informed consent to the forefront. The need to protect respondents is paramount; however, sharing their stories may be the only way to put a human face on the HIV/AIDS epidemic and ultimately change the conditions that exacerbate it. | ||||
| Results / Comments: Researching sensitive subjects often requires the researcher to rethink his or her role and to adopt a stance that is more mutual and open than that which would be expected in a more objective approach. This stance is demanding for a researcher, because of the strong emotional response that sharing the life stories of the respondents evokes. At the same time, the experience brings innumerable instances of hope that emanate from the respondents, who often handle their difficult lives with courage and resilience. Methodological and ethical issues that arose out of the two researches will be highlighted. Presentations using the quotes of HIV positive women and family caregivers of HIV positive persons will be shared. | ||||
| Discussion: Methodological and ethical issues that arose out of the two researches will be highlighted. Presentations using the quotes of HIV positive women and family caregivers of persons living with HIV/AIDS will be shared. Interactive participation, reflection, and discussion will involve workshop participants in a process that focuses on methodological and ethical issues involved in researching persons living with HIV/AIDS, the emotional implications for respondent and researcher, and the complexities involved in HIV/AIDS research, especially in contexts where stigma and discrimination are rampant. | ||||
| Go Back | ||||
