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Project OKURASE begins research study
August 28, 2008
On August 18, 2008 Project OKURASE began its first research study entitled, Community-Based Interventions in Developing Countries: A Pilot Project. This qualitative study involves formative research, a needs assessment of the village.
The specific aims are:
1. Conduct focus group interviews with several key target groups: (a) village elders, (b) adult village men, (c) adult village women, (d) adolescent village males age 18+, and (e) adolescent village females age 18+. In each group we shall determine the perceptions of the primary needs of the village citizens with regard to health, mental health, substance abuse, dental care, education, employment, and the environment (e.g., clean water, waste management).
2. Conduct individual in-depth interviews with 3 village elders, 5 small business owners, 5 teachers, 5 adolescent males, 5 adolescent females, 5 adult males, 5 adult females, 3 child welfare caseworkers, 3 HIV/AIDS orphans caseworkers. Topics will include the primary medical and dental care needs, mental health needs, substance abuse, education, employment, and environmental needs, rates of substance abuse, HIV/AIDS, and malaria, number of orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) in the region, the needs of OVC, how caring for OVC is managed (e.g., orphanages, living on the streets).
3. Conduct key informant interviews with relevant Ghanaian policy makers, including the AIDS Commissioner in the District and the Deputy Minister of Health to determine methods for attaining research consent for orphans and street children who have no identified parent. This information will help in future research.
The study is being conducted under the scientific guidance of Dr. Cynthia Cupit Swenson, Dr. Michael Sweat, and Dr. Therese Killeen. The Odikro and village are highly supportive of the study and we are learning a lot about the village needs with regard to medical care, mental health, substance abuse, water, waste management, education, skills training, and HIV/AIDS. Professor Amoa, the Director General of the AIDS Commission for Ghana has been very supportive of the project and provided a letter of support and provided input into focus group questions. Honourable Daniel Dugan, the Deputy Minister for Women and Children of Ghana is behind the project and provided a letter of support. Honourable Kwabena Sintim-Aboagye, the Municipal Chief Executive for the West Akyem Municipal continues to be highly supportive. He has provided a letter of support and has worked with us to try to get electricity to the site.
This study has been approved by the Institutional Review Board of the Medical University of South Carolina.
The study is progressing well and aside from dealing with a python on the project site walking trail, the research team is doing well with living on site.
