Providing VCT for PMTCT of HIV and AIDS in Limpopo Province - Assignment Example

Experiences of lay counsellors who provide VCT for PMTCT of HIV and Aids in the Capricorn district, Limpopo Province 1. Effectiveness of Qualitative Study in this Research Work The research that was conducted on the determination of the experiences of the lay counsellors who provide VCT for the prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV and AIDS in the Capricorn District Limpopo Province was purely qualitative. Notably, the research followed numerous aspects of qualitative research (Klenke 32). The report of the research indicates that the qualitative design was employed in order for researchers to understand, explore, and experiences of the targeted lay counsellors (Malema, Malaka, and Mothiba 17). The research aimed at exploring deeply how these experts handled the PMTCT to the pregnant women who had been diagnosed with HIV and AIDS. The qualitative research methods were effective in this case since it allows primary data collection with direct involvement of the targeted group. Qualitative research methods are research methods that gather in depth information that are usually used in understanding human behaviour. Moreover, the most effective part of this research is that it provides detailed information that usually helps in determining reasons governing such behaviours. In other words, the qualitative methods often investigate the how and the why a decision was arrived at; it does only provide what, where, and or where (Kelle 18). For instance, qualitative descriptive design, usually leads to accurate and complete information concerning the phenomenal under study. Therefore, in the study, descriptive qualitative study was a sure means through which the accurate and complete experiences of the lay counsellors could have been obtained. Additionally, the design also enabled that researcher to determine the in service support and education they received after the VCT for PMTCT training of HIV and AIDS (Malema, Malaka, and Mothiba 17). The study provided for analysis is a sociological study that seeks solutions to enhance human livelihood; thus, fund hand information could was vital for the researcher towards their recommendations and conclusions. Qualitative research method allows face-to-face data collection; therefore, this mode of interaction between the targeted population sample and researchers usually allow or provide a change for seeking for more information than was intended. This extra set of information that was not included in the questionnaire leads to a wider understanding of the problem and its other related social problems thereby leading to effective recommendation and the conclusion of the study. For instance, despite having a series of data collection, the researchers in this research collected their data using semi-structured questionnaires. Notably, this system of data collection provides room for the researcher to probe into a series of questions and aspects during the interview. In fact, such extra information is usually quite fruitful to the researcher, other similar search, and targeted population. Moreover, it is recorded that research targeted a winder aspect of public health service including lay counsellors working in same municipal clinics within the Capricorn District. If a structured questionnaire could have been adopted for the study, then some information that could have been used to gauge and compare these clinics could have not been arrived at; thereby leading to difficulties in concluding and making recommendations due to the disparity in data collected (Klenke 36). It is worth noting that random sampling is an aspect of qualitative research method. This mode of choosing samples for data collection was vital for study since it eliminated biasness in data collection. Additionally, using the same interview question or questions also reduced errors in data collection that could be contributed to by researchers. It should be noted that the central research question “Can you describe the VCT for PMTCT of HIV and AIDS that you provide to the pregnant women (Malema, Malaka, and Mothiba 17)?” This was a perfect lead question since they helped the participants to describe the experience of the phenomenon under study. Therefore, qualitative research of this nature usually provides a theme that develops structural explanation to the finding or the theme. 2. Different Qualitative Design Research Paradigm Qualitative research design usually begins with the topic and paradigm selection. A paradigm is a framework of beliefs, methods, and values within which a research is conducted. Contemporary qualitative research works have been conducted from a series of paradigms that have influenced Meta theoretical and conceptual concern of legitimacy, data analysis control, epistemology, and ontology among other aspects. However, the most recent research have been conducted have been characterized by distinct mode of research works that are described as interpretive, postmodern, and critical practices (Klenke 97). Nonetheless, the five major and effective that contemporary qualitative research paradigms that can be recommended for this qualitative research work include critical theory, positivity, and post-positivism. These modes or designs of Qualitative study are usually an inquiry process towards understanding human or a social problem towards building a holistic and complex picture that is formed with words and reporting detailed views of informants that are conducted in a natural setting. The research was conducted in a natural setting without any modification; hence, it was appropriate and effective it could have followed a critical theory, positivity, and postpositivity (Kelle 72). Alternatively, the qualitative research work could have been regarded as consistent with quantitative paradigm which is an inquiry into human or social problem that involves testing a theory constituting variables measured and analysed statistically with the aim of determining whether the predictive generalization of a given theory is true. In other words, this qualitative design research paradigm provides a systematic way of approaching a social matter towards working out solutions by digging into the sources of such matter. Understanding the theory behind the social or human problem to be studies would have been effective in conducting research since it would have provided glues or directive questions on how the problem is generated, and the possible ways to solve the same. Just like the contextual research design, positivity research paradigm could have provided an effective understanding to the phenomenon under study by placing the participants in their actual setting. Moreover, postpositivity could help in deducing conclusion and drafting recommendation to the project. These two elements are quite vital in any research work since they help in addressing the problem under study towards arriving at a solution. 3. The Characteristics of the Sampling Procedures Used Qualitative research usually follows investigative methodologies that are often described as naturalistic, ethnographic, field, anthropological, or participant research. This research methodology usually emphasizes on the significance of looking at the variables in their natural setting that is within their locality. Therefore, it is significant to note that the interaction between the indentified variables is quite vital. The most effective mode of data collection is through open ended questions. The open ended data collection usually provides direct quotation that allows direct conversion of the qualitative data to have statistical meaning. Interviews are integral parts of objective investigation that attempts to gather data that provide information about comparisons, relations, and predictions. Moreover, it attempts to remove the investigator or the researcher from the investigation. Notably, the provided qualitative followed these elements of qualitative paradigm. The sampling technique that was deployed in the Capricorn district research was quite effective since the targeted population was initially selected randomly and this reduced any degree of biasness. From the first 30 randomly, selected clinics were reduced further to 15 in order to allow effective and interactive data collection. Nonetheless, the random sampling technique that was deployed seems to disadvantage the targeted population. It should be noted that the research targeted lay counsellors; however, from the 15 randomly cited clinics, only two lay counsellors were available for the study. Nonetheless, the data was collected through interviews that were guided by semi structured data collection method (Klenke 87). This mode proofed to be effective since all the targeted lay counsellors provided information that use useful to the research. Additionally, since the data collection involved direct interaction between the researcher and the targeted population, the research was able to probe into other additional but relevant information for research. The verbal and non verbal clues that arose led to a strong connection between the researcher and the participants. Moreover, the sample of 15 out of the 30 available clinics in the district was quite effective to provide a totally representative data to the research towards effective conclusion and recommendation. 4.1. Different Data Collection Procedures There are different and effective modes of qualitative data collection procedures; however, do to the nature of the information required by a researcher from participants; a researcher will opt for only a specific mode among them. The commonly known data collection methods include focused group discussion, in-depth interviews, individual interview, and observation as well as self study. Focused group discussion, individual study, and in-depth studies and survey usually constitute the interview class. Nonetheless, for the Capricorn District case study required individual or in-depth interviews regarding the nature of information required from the participants. In addition, the study could have involved participant’s observation especially in line with verifying their academic certificates among other professional credentials. In-depth interview could have been relevant since it creates interpersonal relationship between researchers and the participants; thus, setting the participant free to share most of the required information with the researcher. Nonetheless, the structure of such interactions or interview should be analyzed and made to remain scientifically structured to allow the participants or the interviewee to have a well understanding of the interview questions so they may respond directly and effectively. It should be noted that in-depth interview usually takes three forms including informal, general interview, and conversational interview, as well as the open, ended and standardized interviews. Among these, the Capricorn District study followed “semi structured one to one interviews (Malema, Malaka, and Mothiba 17). Nonetheless, the most effective way that the research could have followed or been conducted is the conversational interview. The in – depth conversational interviews are usually more conversational than formal. This allows the researcher to explore few general topics with the aim of uncovering the views of the participants. Moreover, the conversational interview allows the research to lead the participant to unfold a particular view from their own perspective (the emic perspective) but not from the researcher’s view (the etic perspective). When a researcher decides on the conversational in depth interview, he or she must adopt a systematization degree of questioning the participant. For the Capricorn District study, the research applying the conversational interview must analyzed and interrelated stages through which the research was to follow as they tested their findings in a more structured and focused questioning. A well applied in-depth conversational interview usually eliminates attitude that might have been developed by the participant thereby affecting their mode to replying to questions or providing the required information to researchers. Elimination of any degree of prejudice and attitude between the researcher and the participant would lead to or yield quality data in a quicker and effective way. 4.2. Data Analysis Procedures There are numerous mode of qualitative data analysis; however, depending on the nature of research, the obtained data can be analyzed in different forms and formats. It is worth noting that most of analyses of qualitative data usually follow observer’s impression. In this case, the expert or the bystander observer examines the data then interpret it by forming an impression on the data then reporting such impression in a structured or in a quantitative way. Nonetheless, the most effective data analysis procedure for the qualitative research work includes coding and recursive abstraction. Coding is the technique that interprets data by first organizing the data thereby providing the mean towards providing the interpretation of some qualitative methods. Numerous coding techniques usually require that analyst to read and interpreted data thereby demarcate it into segments within the data (Bamberger 201). This process may be done throughout the data with each identified code is labelled with a “code” that is usually a word or a short word phrase that provides information how the selected segments relate to the research objectives. After completing coding of the data, the report is prepared via a mix discussion of similarities, summarizing the codes prevalence, differentiating interrelated codes, and or comparing any relationship between the codes. For the interviews that are only tightly structured like the Capricorn District research, may not be analyzed effectively using coding technique since the data from this research lacks typical analytical steps or segments. Therefore, this data can be analyzed through the recursive abstraction that does not involve the coding technique. The recursive abstractions technique usually summarizes the datasets. The datasets are again summarized further, and the process of summarization continues to a given level. The final summary is usually a compact summary that are usually difficult to discern accurately without preceding distillation steps. Despite the fact that a series of compact summaries is usually eliminated from the final work, the final analysis report usually contains contrite information that is vital to make construction recommendation and effective conclusion. 5. Trustworthiness of the Research In the case of qualitative research, trustworthiness usually refers to the validity of the research that usually forms the centre of the research work. Additionally, the same principle can be associated with the credibility or the accountability of the research work. Nonetheless, there are numerous ways to establish trustworthiness in a qualitative research, and they include member check, peer debriefing, interviewer corroboration, negative case analysis, prolonged engagement, conformability, auditability, balance, and bracketing. Alternatively, trustworthiness is usually questioned by positivists since their validity and reliability concepts cannot be addressed in the same naturalistic way. However, some contributors on research methods have since demonstrated how researcher employing qualitative research can incorporate measures that address the same issue. According to contributors including Guba, trustworthiness can only be analyzed in terms of credibility, dependability, confirmability, and transferability. The Capricorn District research used the Lincoln and Guba’s ideals to ensure that trustworthiness is achieved in the research. Among the principles that were employed in this research included credibility, dependability, and confirmability as well as transferability. In the consideration of the Capricorn District researchers, credibility as an element of trustworthiness was defined as the ability that ensured prolonged engagement in the field study during the period of conducting this research work. According to the researcher, maintaining longer time in the field to investigate their problem was an element of trustworthiness (Speziale and Carpenter 31). This degree of measuring trustworthiness of the research may have been vague and invalid since the team might have taken a longer time conducting research without doing quality work during the same period. In other words, a research may take a shorter time but result to be more effective and credible than one that lasted for a longer time. Therefore, the means through the researchers of the Capricorn District researcher justify their trustworthiness in terms of credibility is not convincing or valid. Additionally, the credibility in this research seems to be repeatability or the confirmability of the research since they did a follow up to determine whether the participants had the same responses as they had provided for the same concerns earlier. The confirmability was also achieved by counter checking the information that was coded for analysis. Nonetheless, conducting a triangulation data collection method through field notes and voice recorders could have been a means to ensure trustworthiness in this case study especially for the unstructured interviews. It is worth stating that for the study to be considered credible as an element of trustworthiness; such study must measure or test what it originally intended. Additionally, credibility was achieved through deploying random sampling. In addition, the researcher noted that they ensured trustworthiness through dependability, confirmability, and transferability. Notably, these are vital elements of trustworthiness; however, their effectiveness usually depends on how the researchers handle their work during field data collection. The researcher RN Malema, DW Malaka, and TM Mothiba ensured that their research work was dependable by following thick description research method (Speziale and Carpenter 141). They also ensured that the research had the possibility of following the same path if it were to be repeated. It is vital to that this means of measuring dependability was vital since it was also a means to measure the consistency in the findings of the research in a qualitative manner. Finally, the researcher considered the transferability element that dictates that a research can only be trustworthy if its findings can be applied to other studies and situations. Nonetheless, according to Malema, Malaka, and Mothiba, their research was transferable since the same findings could be applied in other contexts or the same could be used by other respondents. Therefore, other than the credibility, other elements of trustworthiness as applied in the research are effectively described and applied to ascertain the qualitative nature of the project. 6. Principles of Research Ethics Ethical issues are quite critical in the design of qualitative research. Qualitative research is usually conducted to generate knowledge and contribute to policy and practice. The commonly applied principles of the research ethics includes sound research morals and ethical endeavour that ensures that all the rights of participants in the research work are not compromised (Bamberger 216). Regardless of the nature of a qualitative research, there are major ethical qualitative research principles that researchers should adhere to while conducting their study. These ethical principles include informal and voluntary consent, anonymity of research participants, confidentiality of the information shared, no harm or beneficence to participants, and reciprocity. Researchers are usually expected to follow these ethical principles during their studies. Respect the rights and obligations of the participants are quite vital since these features usually ensure autonomy of the participants in the research work. Notably, it is the adherence to such autonomy that ensures that people are protected from exploitation especially persons who are vulnerable to any kind of exploitation (Pitney and Parker 91). Thus, eliminating such sense of exploitation usually ensures participants are respected at all cost. Therefore, adherence to the ethical principles will ensure that participants or any involved party is not used simple as a way or means of achieving the research objectives. In other words, adherence to ethical principles is important in eliminating social and psychological risks thereby minimizing the benefits enjoyed by the participants during the study. It should be noted that at some point, for a researcher to determine the ethical values of the targeted participants, they are usually informed, and they share the basis of the enquiry. At this point, the participants or the community that is targeted usually have prior information of research; therefore, such participants may have formed an opinion of the research or provide answers to in a way favouring them (Speziale and Carpenter 231). For instance, the research team that conducted research in Capricorn District in Limpopo Province convened a meeting with the supervisors of the University of Limpopo Ethics Committee, Limpopo Province Department of Health and Social Development and clinics (Malema, Malaka, and Mothiba 18). This move could have influenced the nature, reliability, and the effectiveness of the data obtained during the actual field work. 7. Limitations of the Study The major limitation of the study is that it targeted only one group, the lay counsellors in a problem or research area that affects different target groups. The research that needs to justify the effectiveness of a service to patients could have involved patients. Additionally, since the facilitators also emerged or were partly involved in the delivery of the lay counsellor, there could have been questionnaires targeted their facilitation responsibilities to the functions of the lay counsellors especially the interaction between they lay counsellors and their patients. Therefore, there is still more research work that should be conducted with intent of seeking the views of all the concern parties or participants in this research problem. Additionally, the research targeted few clinics and clinical professionals; therefore, the same data retrieved for the study is not effective to represent the entire state especially if such research was conducted to initiate a policy in the targeted nation. Hence, if this is the case, then the project should target a winder area or different province to bring a picture of the national report rather than equating such small data to an enormous population. 8. General Rules for Scientific Writing Reporting is usually a significant part of scientific research work. Reporting is a mode or means through which the gathered and analyzed information is usually disseminated to a larger community of scientists. Therefore, there are certain specific ways through which the information in the reporting material should be provided in order to help others interpret the presented data or experimental results (Pitney and Parker 88). According to the scientific writing, a scientific report must target a specific audience. For instance, if the paper is addressing health matters, it should be addressed to the health department or health related areas. Therefore, since the report presented in the Capricorn District Research is addressing health issues and targets health practitioners and the same district’s department of health; research is acutely presented in a scientific writing. Additionally, for a report to be considered to be an excellent academic writing, it should be presented in complete sentences that are easy to understand. In other words, such writing must conform to standard or conventional standard of English writing that factors sentence form, spelling, and grammar among other writing styles. The report provided following the Capricorn District follows an academic writing since it follows effective and sufficient English writing style with complete and easy to understand sentences. In other words, the report has effective prose thereby presenting the intended information effectively and preciously without any degree of confusion. Additionally, the Capricorn District report follows another element of scientific writing that is defined by clear and concise sentences. The report writers in this case have achieved the clarity and conciseness by writing brief sentences and to the point. For instance, they noted, “The content of the training received by the lay counsellors appears to be comprehensive (Malema, Malaka, and Mothiba 22).” Finally, the report has avoided ineffective writing styles that include the use of abbreviations that are note defined in prior. However, in cases where such abbreviations are used, they are well defined. Such definitions are means of effective communication or presentation of ideas (Hoover 35). For instance, to eliminate misconception, the researchers defined all the abbreviations used in their report without assuming others are commonly used abbreviation and these included the definition of abbreviations including “Human Immune Deficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immune-Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) (15).” Additionally, they have used the abbreviation PMTCT that has been defined as “prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) (Malema, Malaka, and Mothiba 15).” Furthermore, it is worth noting that the report has effectively exploited the use of tense and third person. It should be noted that academic especially scientific report writing usually deploys the use of the third parson and past tense (Lindsay 27). Moreover, it is usually effective to use active verbs and the same has been contracted effectively in the Capricorn Districts research report specifically the use of active verbs including is, has, was, have, and had have effectively succeeded in reporting the research and its funding. Therefore, it is worth noting, “The research report complies with the general rules for scientific writing.” Works Cited Top of Form Hoover, Hardy. Essentials for the Scientific and Technical Writer. New York: Dover Publications, 1980. Print. Bottom of Form Top of Form Lindsay, D R. Scientific Writing: Thinking in Words. Collingwood, VIC: CSIRO Pub, 2011. Print. Bottom of Form Top of Form Pitney, William A, and Jenny Parker. Qualitative Research in Physical Activity and the Health Professions. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics, 2009. Print. Bottom of Form Top of Form Klenke, Karin. Qualitative Research in the Study of Leadership. Bingley, UK: Emerald Group Pub, 2008. Print. Bottom of Form Top of Form Bottom of Form Top of Form Speziale, Helen S, and Dona R. Carpenter. Qualitative Research in Nursing: Advancing the Humanistic Imperative. Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer Health/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2011. Print. Bottom of Form Top of Form Kelle, Udo. Computer Aided Qualitative Data Analysis: Theory, Methods and Practice. London [u.a.: SAGE Publ, 1998. Print. Bottom of Form Top of Form Bottom of Form Top of Form Bamberger, Michael. Integrating Quantitative and Qualitative Research in Development Projects. Washington, DC, 2000. Print. Malema, RN, DW Malaka, and TM Mothiba. Experiences of lay counsellors who provide VCT for PMTCT of HIV and AIDS in the Capricorn district, Limpopo ProvinceBottom of Form . September 2010. Read More