Socio-Economic Impact of HIV and AIDS in Tamil nadu

differences in enrolment and dropout
rates of children and time use pattern of
all the household members. In addition to
this, the interview schedule for non-HIV
households had a section on knowledge,
awareness and attitude (including views
on stigma and discrimination) towards
HIV and AIDS.
The questionnaire for the HIV households
was designed to gather basic information
about migration history, HIV status of the
person, stigma and discrimination in the
family, community, workplace, health
facilities and educational institutions.
Details about the economic impact
on the household like cost of medical
treatment, coping mechanisms and
loss of income/employment were also
collected.
2.2 Qualitative techniques
In addition to the household survey, case
studies and Focus Group Discussions
(FGDs) were conducted in order to collect
information that would supplement
the findings of quantitative survey
and probe into the how and why. An
NCAER research team that is well
t r a i n e d i n q u a l i t a t i v e re s e a rc h
techniques they themselves conducted
the case studies and FGDs.
2.2.1 Case studies
Case studies were conducted to capture
in-depth information on PLWHA. Case
studies are a better tool to capture
problems like stigma and discrimination
within the household. Chatting with
the PLWHA using semi-structured
in-depth interview schedules makes
them feel more relaxed and gives
them the confidence to reveal facts
more comfortably. For the purpose of
conducting case studies, unique/typical
cases of PLWHA were selected with the
help of field investigators, NGOs and key
informants of the locality. In the state of
Tamil Nadu, two such case studies were
conducted.
2.2.2 Focus group discussions
The FGDs were conducted with the
members of the Network of Positive
Persons. The main purpose of conducting
the FGDs with the Network of Positive
Persons was to understand social and
economic problems faced by them and
the legal and other issues taken up by the
network. The findings from FGDs are of
help in the analysis and interpretation of
data collected by the household survey
and hence complement the survey. The
NCAER research team conducted Focus
Group Discussions in Theni district at
Cambam on 5th January, 2005 at the
office of the Cumban Network of Positive
People and there were 21 participants. (A
summary of the discussion is presented
in the Appendix)
2.2.3 Training of field
investigators
Both men and women investigators were
employed to canvass the questionnaires.
The questionnaires were translated
into Tamil and those who were fluent in
the language were selected for conducting
the survey. The NCAER researchers
provided training to the field investigators
and also supervised the survey. The
investigators were given both classroom
and field training to enable them to
administer the questionnaires. Since
the subject of the study is of a sensitive
nature, the investigators were trained
to conduct the interviews keeping
in mind the ethical issues involved
and were required to get the verbal
consent of the respondents prior to
interviewing them.
The questionnaire
for the HIV
households was
designed to gather
basic information
about migration
history, HIV
status of the
person, stigma
and discrimination
in the family,
community,
workplace,
health facilities
and educational
institutions
Data and Methodology
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