Resources

This publication is the outcome of a workshop sponsored by the Canadian IDRC which examined the research methods available to rapidly generate information on community nutrition problems. Paper One (see Cervinskas. J, 1990) is an introduction which offers explanations for the failures of conventional scientific research in nutrition. Paper Two describes RRA and RAP as methodologies suited for making nutrition research more relevant (see Kachondham. Y, 1990) Paper Three discusses RAP for community-based Assessment and Analysis. (see Hurtado. E, 1990) Paper Four is a case study of a sociological approach to nutrition problems in Java. Paper five assesses nutrition problems in India using RRA methods. The summmary concludes that RRA and RAP techniques are complementary to conventional, qualitative methods.

Body mapping (pictures of the perceived working of the female reproductive system) was conducted with women in southern Zimbabwe. The study aimed at bridging local knowledge and western medical explanations of non-indigenous contraception. Maps were drawn on the ground with a stick. The use of body maps helped to generate discussions from which an understanding of local idioms and ideas of contraception emerged.

The Collaborative Health Systems Research Group is a network of health policy makers and academics, supported by the European Commission. The Group takes the view that 'lack of knowledge is now not the main limiting factor in the improvement of health'. The group aims to improve the interface between methodologies from the bio-medical sciences and the social sciences. Health systems research employs both quantitative and qualitative methods. Classical epidemiological methods are used as well as systems analysis and operational research in order to activate research.

The paper is divided into three sections: I) origins of PRA - its advantages and disadvantages; II) the potential applications of PRA in family planning, health and nutrition. This is discussed with specific reference to India and three stages of PRA development are envisaged i) techniques which are simple enough to be applied on a routine basis with local health workers acting as facilitators (verbal feedback on healthcare performance, recording of seasonal trends, village mapping and verbal autopsies). ii) techniques in category i) which work well might then be applied on a continuous basis to monitor and manage service performance iii) PRA is then used in a more formal way to facilitate research and development. III) suggestions are made on how PRA might be institutionalised, again using the Indian example. NGOs are considered to be vital to institutionalize the PRA process. The speed at which governments are able to absorb PRA techniques will be determined by the rate at which suitable NGO support for the process can be made available.

Key characteristics of rapid anthropological procedures (RAP), its uses, and its relationship with participatory research are discussed. RAP is defined as a set of anthropological information collection techniques that provides researchers, social scientists and health workers with guidelines for assessing local conditions and needs, understanding attitudes of the community. RAP usually employs: limited participant observation, direct observation, informal conversation, ethnographic interviewing of key informants and survey interviewing. RAP is considered to be particularly important at the diagnostic stage of project development since the iterative nature of its questions enable answers to be the basis for other more culturally relevant questions.

An exploratory study in Parbhani, a rural community of the western dryland region of India, assessed community nutrition problems using RRA to assess the broad causes of malnutrition. The total study period was nine months. The survey team used public transport, often conducting just two interviews a day. Through open-ended surveys and focus group discussions, in-depth information was obtained on agricultural patterns, food habits, food storage and marketing practices, infant-feeding practices, and cultural beliefs and taboos. Secondary data was analysed. The study concludes by making recommendations for further research.

In an area of El Salvador where dengue fever was endemic four anthropologists, one entomologist and one epidemiologist collected data from women for one week. Participants were given nine different insects in mounted boxes which included malarial mosquitos and were then asked to group insects with common characteristics. The results were processed on computer using a package called (ANTHROPAC). "These data concerning the insect vectors , together with other data from respondents identifying symptoms of dengue, malaria, and other illnesses, provide the necessary background of information for developing appropriate messages in the campaign against dengue fever." (Reprinted from Cultural Anthropology Methods Newsletter, May 1990)