Using participatory research techniques to investigate local notions of malaria in Nigerian community; focus on field-workers' conduct and behaviour

This article submitted for the Feedback section of PLA Notes describes a participatory study that took place in south-eastern Nigeria to investigate local knowledge of malaria among the Ngwa people. The study provided insights about the critical implications of the conduct and behaviour of the fieldworkers with regards to the quality of information and the data gathered. The article describes some of these insights, concluding that practitioners must conduct themselves in culturally responsive ways if they are to successfully generate information and also grasp where and how the information fits into the entire process of sustainable development. There follows a response to the article by Somesh Kumar, which looks at issues raised and offers additional thoughts on the study.