Conducting a Participatory Situation Analysis of.pdf - Global HIV ...

Appendix D: Ethical Considerations
Ethical Considerations When Gathering
Information from Children and Adolescents
Excerpt from: “Ethical Guidelines for Gathering Information from Children and Adolescents,” forthcoming from www.popcouncil.org/horizons
or contact horizons@pcdc.org.
Flow Diagram
The following flow diagram summarizes the main points to be considered when planning an activity to gather information from
children and adolescents that meets ethical standards:
Start
Address
the issue
IS THE PROPOSED INFORMATION-GATHERING ACTIVITY NECESSARY AND JUSTIFIED?
• Is the activity taking place within the broad context of a participatory approach?
• Is the purpose of the activity clearly defi ned and are suffi cient funds available?
• Is the required information unavailable elsewhere (e.g. in existing documents or from
older informants)?
• Will the young people involved in this activity benefi t from it?
No
Abandon
Activity
Yes
Address
the issue
IS THE PROPOSED ACTIVITY DESIGNED TO GET VALID INFORMATION?
• Is there a written description of how the data will be collected, analyzed, and used?
• Have opportunities been identifi ed for children to express their views about the
design and conduct of the activity?
• Does the sampling methodology ensure that all children have an equal opportunity
to participate, recognizing gender, ethnic, and other barriers?
• Have instruments been developed in consultation with professionals, locally translated,
and fi eld tested?
• Has the use of a comparison group for operations research been ethically justifi ed?
No
Abandon
Activity
Yes
Address
the issue
HAVE COMMUNITY AND STAKEHOLDER CONCERNS BEEN APPROPRIATELY CONSIDERED?
• Have all the appropriate community and related groups with an interest in the results
been consulted for permission to work with children?
• Have efforts been made to ensure that community and potential participants understand
the activity’s purpose and possible outcomes to avoid raising false expectations?
• Are local supervision mechanisms in place to monitor child protection and review
ongoing activities?
No
Abandon
Activity
Yes
Turn to next page
Address
the issue
HAVE ADVERSE CONSEQUENCES OF THE PROPOSED ACTIVITY BEEN ANTICIPATED?
• Have potentially harmful direct consequences of the activity been anticipated and
safeguarded against?
• Has the possibility of community stigma from participation been anticipated and
safeguarded against?
Have the identities of participants been protected?
Have fi eld staff been appropriately selected, trained, and supported?
•
•
•
Are fi eld staff and associated community resources prepared to anticipate, recognize,
and respond to children’s needs for follow up, recognizing age, gender, ethnicity, etc?
Conducting a Participatory Situation Analysis of
Orphans and Vulnerable Children Affected by HIV/AIDS
111
Abandon
No
Activity