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Children - 4.2 Methods and Limitations
The participatory methods used in the appraisal are detailed in Appendix 1 of this report. The appraisal was facilitated by Khana staff and by staff from 12 partner NGOs. Over 900 people subsequently participated in the appraisal in locations in Battambang, Kratie, Kompong Thom and Prey Veng provinces and Phnom Penh municipality (see Appendix 2b). These provinces were chosen for their different levels of INGO/UN agency activity with children, their different levels of Khana partner activity, their different risk factors including migration and security, and because they are all high priority in the National AIDS strategy.
Of the participants, 55% were children including 413 orphans. These orphans were accessed in centres (46%), in villages and communities (34%) and on the street in urban settings (20%). The adults comprised community members and leaders, families affected by AIDS, traditional healers, monks, NGO, UN and government staff. Appendix 2a. details the NGO, UN and government agencies who participated. Forty six percent of participants were women or girls. All participants were happy to participate without remuneration for loss of their time and showed great concern both over the issue of HIV/AIDS and over the situation of children affected by AIDS.
The main limitations noted apart from the short time available were that
– Local NGO appraisal facilitators were sometimes reluctant to ask questions when the participants were government staff in senior positions.
– There was also the issue of potential loss of information through translation. This was compensated for by having 6 analysts (3 Khmer and English speakers, and 3 English speakers) working independently with the teams to categorise the findings.
– Of the three tools field-tested (see Appendix 1), the 'Vulnerability drawing and story' and the 'Network diagram of AIDS-related life events' were used much more often than the 'Community support timeline'. (Vulnerability Drawing and Story:
Participants draw picture of 'vulnerable' child and 'non-vulnerable' child of different ages and make up a story about each one. Discussion about comparisons draws out vulnerability and resilience factors. Participants add HIV/AIDS to both stories. Discussion draws out impact of AIDS on vulnerability factors. Participants summarise by defining issues for children affected by AIDS, what helps minimise the impact of AIDS for children and what hinders this process)
– Discussion with participants did not reveal fully the extent of existing resources. More discussion was focussed on issues, needs and gaps.
– Not all service providers in Cambodia were accessed during the appraisal, and we would be grateful for further information even after this report has been disseminated.
– Although a qualitative appraisal, we were not always able to access anticipated accompanying quantitative data broken down by province.
– The appraisal did not elicit some fundamental issues of best practice. The need to listen to these children, for instance, was only articulated by those working in youth focussed NGOs.