METHODS USED TO STUDY HOUSEHOLD COPING STRATEGIES IN RURAL SOUTH-WESTUGANDA

This paper describes the data collection methods used in a longitudina l study of the coping strategies of 27 households in three villages in the study area of the MRC/ODA Research Programme on AIDS in Uganda. A fter pre-testing and piloting, 9 local interviewers made regular visit s to the 27 study households over a period of just over one year. The households were purposively selected to represent different household types and socioeconomic status categories. Data were obtained through participant observation using a checklist to ensure systematic collect ion of data on household activities. Debriefing sessions with the inte rviewers after the visits provided opportunities for the discussion of the findings and exploration of themes for further study. On the basi s of the study findings, and data from the Programme's general study p opulation survey rounds, broad indicators of household 'vulnerability' were identified. A participatory appraisal technique, 'well-being ran king', was used at the end of the study in order to test the viability of the chosen indicators. It is proposed that the example of the rese arch method, which relied on local people not only as interviewers but also as co-investigators in the research, be used to guide future res earch approaches. The participation of the study community at every st age of research and design, as well as monitoring and evaluation of su pportive interventions, is strongly encouraged.