Let’s Tell You a Story: Use of Vignettes in Focus Group Discussions on HIV/AIDS Among Migrant and Mobile Men in Goa, India

SummaryAccess to voluntary counselling and HIV testing (VCT) remains limited in most parts of Ghana with rural populations being the least served. Services remain facility-based and employ the use of an ever-dwindling number of health workers as counsellors. This study assessed approval for the use of lay counsellors to promote community-based voluntary counselling and testing for HIV and the extent of HIV/AIDS-related stigma in the Kassena-Nankana district of rural northern Ghana. A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted. Logistic regression was used to identify predictors of the tendency to stigmatize people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHAs). Focus group discussions were held and analytical coding of the data performed. The majority (91·1%) of the 403 respondents indicated a desire to know their HIV status. Most (88·1%) respondents considered locations outside of the health facility as preferred places for VCT. The majority (98·7%) of respondents approved the use of lay counsellors. About a quarter (24%) of respondents believed that it was possible to acquire HIV through sharing a drinking cup with a PLWHA. About half (52·1%) of the respondents considered that a teacher with HIV/AIDS should not be allowed to teach, while 77·2% would not buy vegetables from a PLWHA. Respondents who believed that sharing a drinking cup with a PLWHA could transmit HIV infection (OR 2·50, 95%CI 1·52–4·11) and respondents without formal education (OR 2·94, 95%CI 1·38–6·27) were more likely to stigmatize PLWHAs. In contrast, respondents with knowledge of the availability of antiretroviral (ARV) drugs were less likely to do so (OR 0·40, 95%CI 0·22–0·73). Findings from the thirteen focus group discussions reinforced approval for community-based VCT and lay counsellors but revealed concerns about stigma and confidentiality. In conclusion, community-based VCT and the use of lay counsellors may be acceptable options for promoting access. Interventional studies are required to assess feasibility and cost-effectiveness.

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‘Ngena ku Smart’

DANDE Journal of Social Sciences and Communication ◽

10.15641/dande.v2i1.32 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 2 (1) ◽

pp. 29-44

Author(s):

Ronard Mutusva ◽

◽

Sindile Dlodlo ◽

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Focus Group ◽

Hiv Transmission ◽

Primary Data ◽

Focus Group Discussions ◽

Group Discussions ◽

Traditional Practice ◽

The Subject ◽

Orange Farm ◽

Hiv Aids

This study brings out circumcision dilemmas and conflicts among the Xhosa people of Lortondale area in the Matabeleland North province of Zimbabwe. The problem befell this community immediately after 2009 when Zimbabwe adopted results from Kenya, Uganda and South Africa in Orange farm that circumcision can curb HIV transmission by 60% from female to male and thus attention was given to medical circumcision, which is known as ‘smart’. Family disunity and disintegration are some of the results of conflicts, within some families whose members shunned the traditional practice. Interviews and focus group discussions were employed in gathering primary data for this study. They allowed access to first-hand information from the Xhosa people themselves. On the same note, one of the researchers has worked closely with this community for a year in other HIV/AIDS programs. This counteracted the element of secrecy associated with the subject of circumcision among the Xhosa people which a number of scholars and news reporters fail to tackle and finally produce general results. Finally, a synergy is proposed as a way that restores peace and order in the society under study.

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Teens speak out about HIV/AIDS: Focus group discussions about risk and decision-making

Journal of Adolescent Health ◽

10.1016/s1054-139x(04)00054-0 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 35 (4) ◽

pp. 345.e27 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

M HOPPE ◽

L GRAHAM ◽

A WILSDON ◽

E WELLS ◽

D NAHOM ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Decision Making ◽

Focus Group ◽

Focus Group Discussions ◽

Group Discussions ◽

Hiv Aids

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HIV/AIDS Health Literacy in Zimbabwe

Methods of Information in Medicine ◽

10.1055/s-0038-1633965 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 44 (02) ◽

pp. 288-292 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

T. B. Masvaure ◽

L. Gavin ◽

P. E. Terry

Keyword(s):

Focus Group ◽

Condom Use ◽

Peer Pressure ◽

Focus Group Discussions ◽

Group Discussions ◽

Number Of Sexual Partners ◽

The University ◽

The Relationship ◽

University Of Zimbabwe ◽

Hiv Aids

Summary Objective: This qualitative study was designed to assess program needs and evaluate and improve HIV/AIDS prevention efforts at the University of Zimbabwe. Methods: We conducted eight focus group discussions with 70 students and conducted key informant interviews with formal and informal opinion leaders. Four mixed-sex focus group discussions, two all-female, and two all-male sessions were held. Results: We found a pervasive sense of despondency and powerlessness among students. Consistent across focus groups, but particularly within the women’s groups, respondents revealed that financial and accommodation needs and peer pressure were causing many male and female students to engage in prostitution. Focus group discussions also revealed condom use with regular partners is low and that students dating partners who are employed find it hard to insist on condom use in the relationship. Conclusions: Participants stated programs had positively influenced their reduction in the number of sexual partners and intentions to get tested for HIV.

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Health literacy among Malawian HIV-positive youth: a qualitative needs assessment and conceptualization

Health Promotion International ◽

10.1093/heapro/daz107 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 35 (5) ◽

pp. 1137-1149

Author(s):

Nadege Sandrine Uwamahoro ◽

Bagrey Ngwira ◽

Kirsten Vinther-Jensen ◽

Gill Rowlands

Keyword(s):

Health Literacy ◽

Focus Group ◽

Analytical Framework ◽

National Association ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Hiv Positive ◽

People Living With Hiv ◽

Focus Group Discussions ◽

Group Discussions ◽

Hiv Aids

Abstract Despite growing evidence of the significance of health literacy in managing and coping with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV), it is not yet an integrated part of HIV/AIDS-related health promotion research and practice in Africa. This article contributes to addressing the gap in research on health literacy and HIV in Sub-Saharan Africa. We aimed to assess health literacy-related needs of young people living with HIV (YPLHIV) and adapt existing health literacy frameworks to the context of HIV/AIDS in Malawi. We used focus group discussions to collect data from a sample of the membership of the national association of YPLHIV. Twenty-four HIV-positive youth (18–29 years) participated in focus group discussions. Participants came from three regions of Malawi. Additionally, we conducted three in-depth interviews with key informants. We used a thematic framework approach to analyse data in MAXQDA. We contextualized definitions of four dimensions of health literacy: functional, interactive, critical and distributed health literacy, which we used as an a priori analytical framework. To further contextualize the framework, we revised it iteratively throughout the analysis process. We identified the need for comprehensive information about HIV and sexual reproductive health, skills to interact with healthcare providers and navigate the health system, and skills to appraise information from different sources, among others. The identified needs were translated into nine action recommendations for the national association of YPLHIV, and with relevance within the wider HIV sector in Malawi and beyond. We found that the dimensions in our analytical framework operate on the individual, system and public policy levels.

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Teens speak out about HIV/AIDS: Focus group discussions about risk and decision-making

Journal of Adolescent Health ◽

10.1016/j.jadohealth.2003.12.002 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 35 (4) ◽

pp. 345.e27-345.e35 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

Marilyn J. Hoppe ◽

Laurie Graham ◽

Anthony Wilsdon ◽

Elizabeth A. Wells ◽

Deborah Nahom ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Decision Making ◽

Focus Group ◽

Focus Group Discussions ◽

Group Discussions ◽

Hiv Aids

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Dari Idealisme ke Pragmatisme: Pergeseran Paradigma dalam Pengembangan Hukum Ekonomi Syariah di Indonesia

Al-Manahij Jurnal Kajian Hukum Islam ◽

10.24090/mnh.v14i2.3408 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 14 (2) ◽

pp. 191-210

Author(s):

Addiarrahman Addiarrahman ◽

Illy Yanti

Keyword(s):

Focus Group ◽

Focus Group Discussions ◽

Group Discussions ◽

Business World ◽

Key Informants ◽

The Public ◽

Financial Products ◽

Legal Consideration ◽

Economic Law ◽

Islamic Economic

This study seeks to understand the pragmatism of the development of sharia economic law, and its implications for Islamic financial products in Indonesia. The data comes from the results of interviews and focus group discussions with key informants from academics, practitioners, authorities, and the public. This research finds that pragmatism in the development of Islamic economic law is an approach that still dominates the DSN-MUI fatwas. The pragmatism style used is complex-eclectic pragmatism which is represented through makhārij al-fiqhiyyah, which is to choose a mild opinion by sticking to the strongest method or also called "taysīr al-manhajī". The use of this method is intended to ensure that the fatwa is truly able to answer the needs of the business world, as well as being in line with sharia principles. DSN-MUI also does not use maslahah as a legal consideration in a free or liberal way. Rather, it returns maslahah in consideration of the method, so that it is permissible to use the bay’ al-'inān contract only in a forced state (ḍarurah).

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“Stages of change, smoking behavior and acceptability of a textmessaging intervention for tobacco cessation among cigarette, dokha and shishasmokers: A qualitative research study.”

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2019-029144 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (9) ◽

pp. e029144 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Yusra Elhidaia Elobaid ◽

Andrea Leinberger Jabari ◽

Aisha Al Hamiz ◽

Abdul Rizzak Al Kaddour ◽

Sherif Bakir ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Qualitative Research ◽

Smoking Cessation ◽

Focus Group ◽

United Arab Emirates ◽

Text Messaging ◽

Tobacco Cessation ◽

Text Messages ◽

Controlled Study ◽

Focus Group Discussions ◽

Group Discussions

ObjectivesTo explore: (A) the underlying motivators and barriers to smoking cessation among young Arabic speaking smokers and (B) to examine the suitability and preferences for tobacco cessation interventions (specifically text messages) and study the possibility of enrollment methods for a randomised controlled study using text messages as an intervention for tobacco cessation.DesignQualitative research using focus group discussions and content analysis.Setting(s)Two universities, one of them is the first and foremost comprehensive national university in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The third setting is the largest hospital in the UAE and the flagship institution for the public health system in the emirate of Abu Dhabi.ParticipantsSix focus group discussions with a total of 57 participants. Forty-seven men and 10 women. Fifty-three of them were current smokers.ResultsThe analysis of six focus groups was carried out. Main themes arose from the data included: preferences for tobacco cessation interventions and acceptability and feasibility of text messaging as tobacco cessation intervention. Different motives and barriers for quitting smoking including shisha and dokha were explored.ConclusionInterventions using text messaging for smoking cessation have not been used in the Middle East and they could potentially be effective; however, tailoring and closely examining the content and acceptability of text messages to be used is important before the conduction of trials involving their use. Social media is perceived to be more effective and influential, with a higher level of penetration into communities of young smokers.

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Perspectives of future pharmacists on the potential for development and implementation of pharmacist prescribing in Qatar

International Journal of Clinical Pharmacy ◽

10.1007/s11096-019-00946-9 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 42 (1) ◽

pp. 110-123

Author(s):

Mohammad Issam Diab ◽

Angham Ibrahim ◽

Oraib Abdallah ◽

Alla El-Awaisi ◽

Monica Zolezzi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Focus Group ◽

Treatment Options ◽

Developed Countries ◽

Focus Group Discussions ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Group Discussions ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Pharmacist Prescribing ◽

Barriers To Implementation ◽

Special Training Program

AbstractBackground Pharmacists in many developed countries have been granted prescribing authorities under what is known as “non-medical prescribing” or “pharmacist prescribing”. However, such prescribing privileges are not available in many developing countries. Objective The objective of this study was to determine the perspectives of future pharmacists (recent pharmacy graduates and pharmacy students) on pharmacist prescribing and its potential implementation in Qatar. Methods A convergent parallel mixed-methods design was used: (1) a cross-sectional survey using a pre-tested questionnaire and; (2) focus group discussions to allow for an in-depth understanding of the issue, with a focus on pharmacists prescribing competencies as well as barriers for its implementation. Main outcome measures Future pharmacists’ perspectives and attitudes towards pharmacist prescribing in Qatar. Results The majority of the respondents (94.4%) indicated awareness of the prescribing competency related to selecting treatment options. Furthermore, the majority (92.4%) believed that pharmacists should undergo prescribing training and accreditation before been legally allowed to prescribe, a point that was reiterated in the focus group discussions. Participants generally expressed support for collaborative and supplementary prescribing models when developing prescribing frameworks for Qatar. Four categories emerged under the theme barriers to implementation of pharmacist prescribing: lack of prescribing competency, pharmacist mindset, lack of accessibility to patient records and counseling rooms, and diversity of education and training background. Conclusion The majority of recent pharmacy graduates and students were in favor of pharmacist prescribing been implemented in Qatar. However, a special training program was deemed necessary to qualify pharmacists to prescribe safely and effectively.

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