Qualitative Methods to Verify Quantitative Indicators

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Qualitative Methods to Verify Quantitative
Indicators

• Jihad Makhoul, DrPH
• Rima Nakkash, MPH
• American University of Beirut

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Map of UNRWAs area of operations , UNRWA
Website, November 2005 http//www.un.org/unrwa/ref
ugees/images/map.jpg
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The story..

• Research team
• Intervention for youth
• Palestinian refugee camp in Beirut
• Quantitative community and individual level
  indicators
• Participatory approach
• Doubt

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Community Background

• Residents Palestinian refugees since 1948
• 1.6 square kilometers
• Population size 14,000 to 18,000
• Served by UNRWA and NGOs
• Temporary housing
• Poor ventilation, crowding
• Political restrictions

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Burj el Barajneh Camp
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Indicators

• Urban health study
• Household Survey.. 2002
• Social, economic, environmental conditions
• 41 boys and girls 13-19yrs
• Uni-variate quantitative analysis community and
  individual level
• Individual level education, financial
  contribution..
• Family level stressful events, supportive
  relatives, proximity..
• Community level safety, happiness, exchange with
  family, relatives or friends

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Discussions with Youth

• Recommendations to share results
• 6 focus groups in the camp
• With girls and boys
• In and out of school
• To
• verify quantitative indicators
• involve youth

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Findings from group discussions

• Thematic analysis
• Indicators underestimated
• Smoking
• Fights
• Vague questions

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Findings

• Issues not covered by questionnaire
• Psychological well being
• - Linked to physical health among girls
• - Linked to risky behavior among boys
• Coping methods
• - Drug abuse among boys
• - Listening to music and writing among girls
• - Seeking social support among both genders

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Findings

• Stressful home environment
• - Unjustified restrictions among both genders
• - Parents unaware of childrens needs
• Stressful school environment
• - Unpleasant teachers attitudes
• - Violence
• - More stressful for girls than boys

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Findings

• Underlying social and contextual factors
• - Girl dropout Little worth education
• - Boys smoking Social acceptance
• Unhappiness because little hope for future change

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Discussion

• Survey tool items western literature
• Arabic translation of English terminology
• Questions too general for camp
• Differences within adolescent groups
• Open nature of focus group discussions
• Quantitative vs. qualitative methods

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Discussion

• Differences of EMs
• Adolescent ill-health related more to risky
  behavior
• Gender differences
• Feelings of validation among participants
• Suggestions for future research by youth

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Conclusions

• Limitations of one research method
• Surveys were not comprehensive
• - Provided prevalence data only
• - Missed major concerns of youth
• Need to understand norms and values
• Implications for intervention planning
• - Qualitative research to precede quantitative
• - Involve youth in planning to ensure
  commitment
• - Do not overlook gender differences