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

Combination of Quantitative and
Qualitative Methods
Using both quantitative and qualitative methods
offers a more detailed and meaningful description of
the situation of orphans and vulnerable children than
using only one method. Qualitative information can
guide the crafting of survey questions and be used to
help interpret the causes and meanings of statistical
findings.As illustrated in the following example, using
only quantitative data might lead to a recommendation
for getting more children into the existing
school system. However, with the added perspective
gained from focus groups, it appears that the school
system itself needs an intervention before it can
take in more children.
Combining Quantitative and Qualitative
Methods
Quantitative Method (Survey)
Question:Are you currently attending school?
Response: 60% of boys said “yes” and 15% of girls
said “yes”
Qualitative Method (Focus Groups with Girls)
Question:What are the reasons for not attending
school? Responses:
• I didn’t learn anything.
• Teachers force sex on girls.
• Teachers don’t care about girls learning.
• Boys tease the girls and want sex.
• My teacher gave me “the sickness. I’m too ill to
go now.”
methods also serves as a cross-check on findings and conclusions
offered by each method. In addition, using both quantitative
and qualitative methods:
• Avoids the possibility that the situation analysis findings
are an artifact of a single method, a single
source, or a single researcher’s biases
• Offers a descriptive analysis of the situation as well as
conveys the magnitude of the problems
• Provides a way to consistently track programs over
time and/or across locations
• Presents compelling evidence needed to mobilize and
target resources
I. Analysis of Secondary Data
What is it and why is it used?
Analyzing secondary data involves reviewing variables in
existing quantitative data sets and determining if analysis
of any of the variables will inform the situation analysis
of HIV/AIDS-affected children. For example, using the
Haiti DHS data set for 2000 it is possible to produce the
summary data on orphan status by type (below).
Reviewing secondary data sources can significantly
reduce the amount of time and effort required to gather
primary data. That is, existing data sources may provide
sufficient information to define the problem or terms of
reference for the situation analysis. A summary report of
secondary data analysis combined with guideline materials,
such as A Framework for the Protection, Care and
Support of Orphans and Vulnerable Children Living
in a World with HIV/AIDS, can indicate information
gaps. Primary data collection for the situation analysis
Sub-National Prevalence Rates of Maternal, Paternal, and Double Orphans Among Children Under Age 15 and Percent of
Persons in Households with Orphans
Region
Persons in
Sample Size Maternal Paternal Double Total Households with
(Weighted) Orphans Orphans Orphans Orphans Orphans
Haiti (DHS 2000) 18,726 3.0 6.4 0.8 10.2 16.4
Metropolitan Area 4,077 1.9 7.2 1.0 10.1 15.6
North 7,279 2.6 5.5 0.8 8.8 15.4
South 7,406 4.0 6.8 0.8 11.6 18.0
Nyangara, Florence. Forthcoming. Sub-National Distribution and Situation of Orphans:
Targeted Countries by the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief. PHNI.
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Guidelines and Tools