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

Example Focus Group Discussion Guides for
Use with Community Members
(Family Health International/Nigeria, 2001)
(All focus group discussions should begin with the introduction
below, clearly stating the objectives of the discussion
and a summary of the issues for the discussion.)
INTRODUCTION:
We are from Family Health International, an international
health organization working with the Nigerian
government to improve the health of Nigerians.
We are currently doing an assessment regarding orphans
and vulnerable children to help in planning our future
cooperation with the Nigerian government. As part of our
assessment, we are talking to a wide cross section of people
in the society, including government officials, community
and religious leaders, health workers, teachers, NGOs and
community members. We would use the information we
generate to plan activities that will address identified needs
of orphans and vulnerable children.
1. Who in this community is regarded as an orphan?
(Explore child’s age, dead parent’s sex)
2. What categories of children are in greatest need of
support in this community? (e.g., street children,
almajiri, area boys and girls, hawkers, child beggars,
and child prostitutes). Explore why for each category
mentioned.
3. How did families and communities take care of each
other, especially orphans and children in need, during
your grandparent’s time? Which of these practices are
still in place?
4. Among the practices that are no longer in place,
which would be helpful if they were reintroduced?
5. What are the major problems facing children in this
community now?
6. Have you noticed more orphans/children in need of
support/assistance (e.g., education, shelter, food, clothing)
in this community in recent years? If so, what
gave you this impression and what do you think are
the underlying causes?
7. What contributions is the family making toward the
care and support of orphans and children in need?
How can we increase and sustain the capacity of the
families to do so?
8. What contributions is the community making toward
the care and support of orphans and children in need?
How can we increase and sustain the capacity of the
community to do so?
9. Tell us how you would like to be involved in providing
care and support for orphans/ children in need
Probe:
• Volunteer care provider
• Resource mobilization (funding and materials)
• Attend community meetings and contribute
10. What do you feel is the attitude of the community
toward AIDS orphans?
11. What is the inheritance pattern in your community?
Probe:
• Woman without a male child
• Woman in a polygamous setting
• Woman who lost her husband at a young age/old age
12. What rituals are expected to be performed by the
widow? (Is there anything that exposes her to the
risk of HIV/AIDS?)
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