Ethical and Practical Challenges in Conducting Fieldwork on a Sensitive Topic (HIV) in Nepal.

Abstract

This short one-page piece addresses issues that arose during the fieldwork of the first author. He as a PhD student experienced a number of practical issues and challenges while conducting fieldwork for his PhD thesis in Nepal at the end of 2009. The key issues that arose involved gaining access to and conducting interviews in hospitals in Nepal, especially in out-patient departments. Obtaining access to people living with HIV was a major challenge. He faced difficulties getting approval/support for the research because HIV is a stigmatising and sensitive issue in Nepal, and research is still not considered a priority area. Delays increased the costs of research and shortened the time available to complete the fieldwork. Without obtaining written approval from the hospital director, it was not possible to start and the absence of such a key person on the days of fieldwork caused delays in obtaining approval and consequently resulted in delayed data collection. Ethical issues and challenges inevitably arose during the fieldwork. Confidentiality was a major issue, and conducting interviews in out-patient departments made recruitment difficult due to lack of privacy.