Conducting Interviews during the COVID-19 Pandemic and Beyond

Self, Becky

doi:10.19181/inter.2021.13.4.1

Cited by 21 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 46 publications

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“…Several studies have reported that ASHAs are unhappy with the present incentive-based honorariums and are seeking permanent jobs with salaries [ 22 , 24 ]. Non-availability of transport has been described in other studies [ 19 , 25 ], for example, emergency “108” vehicles were often delayed in Orissa [ 25 ]).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 80%

“…Two researchers (a qualitative researcher and an epidemiologist/health scientist) conducted in-depth face-to-face interviews in the pre-COVID-19 study. The interviews undertaken during the COVID-19 pandemic were conducted and audio-recorded over the telephone (to comply with social distancing regulations) [ 19 ] by MG, a female anthropologist who analysed the data for both studies. The interviews took place in the evenings, when the participants could dedicate sufficient time and were not constrained by work obligations, and lasted from 60 to 90 minutes.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Working as frontline health facilitators, service providers, program supporters, and social health activists in Indian hilly terrain areas: A qualitative study of accredited social health activists’ experiences before and during the COVID-19 pandemic

et al. 2022

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Background Community health workers (CHW) contribute to achieving health targets of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and Universal Health Care (UHC) in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). In India, accredited social health activists (ASHAs) function as health facilitators, service providers, and programme supporters for rural and tribal communities and are at the frontline during the COVID-19 pandemic. We aimed to describe the ASHAs’ work roles both before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, explore the tasks ASHAs performed throughout the pandemic, and understand its effects on the evolving role of ASHAs. Methods We used qualitative data from a pre-COVID-19 study conducted in 2018-2019 including face-to-face interviews with purposively sampled ASHAs and their health care supervisors (n = 18) from rural Maharashtra state (India), and a follow-up study during the COVID-19 pandemic using telephonic interviews with a subset of participants from the pre-COVID-study (n = 8). Data were analysed thematically using MAXQDA v11.00. Results The primary theme in the pre-COVID-19 study was ASHAs’ role as described above, except as social health activists, linking beneficiaries to the local maternal and child health care services, distributing medicines for common illnesses, access to government schemes, and engaging in multiple health surveys. During the pandemic, raising awareness, screening of at-risk populations, arranging referrals, providing treatment and follow-up to COVID-19 patients, and supporting their family members. These activities increased the workload and health risks to ASHAs and their family, causing stress and tension among them. However, they had effectively carried out the new duties. ASHAs have improved their status, earning praise from families, society, and the government. They were honoured with the Global Health Leaders Award at the 75th World Health Assembly. Conclusion ASHAs’ contribution to the health system improved the indicators related to maternal and child health during the pre-COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, they maintained frontline health care during the COVID-19 pandemic, demonstrating resilience despite the challenges of increased workload and stress. However, the COVID-19 pandemic highlights the need to respond to and understand the implications of ASHAs’ evolving roles.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 80%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Working as frontline health facilitators, service providers, program supporters, and social health activists in Indian hilly terrain areas: A qualitative study of accredited social health activists’ experiences before and during the COVID-19 pandemic

et al. 2022

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“…Each interview lasted between 50 and 120 minutes. Interviews were primarily conducted in person; however, others took place online (via Microsoft Teams or Zoom) when necessary or requested (Self, 2021).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Water governance on the streets of Scotland: How frontline public workers encounter and respond to tensions in delivering water services with communities

2022

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We explore the activities of frontline workers situated in public bodies responsible for water service provision. We use Scotland as a case study. Here, like in other parts of Europe, there are greater expectations and responsibilities placed on communities to tackle water concerns. In this context, frontline workers are required to collaborate closely with communities to encourage their involvement in public services whilst being more attentive to their needs and concerns. Doing so brings the relationship between frontline workers and communities into focus. In water services, a research gap exists as to how frontline workers interact with communities and influence engagement. Although frontline workers in water services have a highly influential role, evidence of how they perform their daily duties remains limited. This gap hinders understanding the challenges that frontline workers experience and how they can be overcome. Responding to this gap, we look to administration and policy studies, where a tradition of studying frontline workers exists in diverse public policy areas. Using the concepts of biasing, aligning and negotiating, we explore the activities of frontline workers. Using interview and observational data, we demonstrate how they (i) bias services to limit and control engagement, (ii) align resources and people to enhance opportunities for engagement and (iii) negotiate with colleagues and communities to deliver goals. We unpack the role of frontline workers and explore their pertinent position in water governance as they work inside and outside their organisations. We finish with conclusions and future avenues for research.

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“…Our goal is to share our approach and key learnings with others who wish to undertake body mapping in this way. Further, we seek to contribute to an emerging body of literature that explores the process of conducting research during the pandemic (see for example, Hill et al, 2021; Leese et al, 2022; Self, 2021; Vaughan et al, 2022).…”

Section: Background: Covid-19 and The Move To Body Mapping Onlinementioning

confidence: 99%

Exploring Embodied Experience via Videoconferencing: A Method for Body Mapping Online

Vaughan

Dew

Ngo

et al. 2022

International Journal of Qualitative Methods

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Faced with a series of COVID-19 related lockdowns in Australia across 2020 and 2021, and anxious about the safety of our research participants, we developed a novel approach to body mapping, an arts-based research method typically undertaken in-person. We produced a facilitated body mapping workshop hosted via an online videoconferencing platform. Workshops brought together 29 participants with disability, mental distress and/or refugee background who used body mapping to represent their embodied experiences of stigma and discrimination. These workshops generated rich data, and participants reported a high level of satisfaction with the process. In this paper we describe our novel approach to body mapping, and share practical tips for others who wish to undertake body mapping remotely. We outline strengths associated with this method: increased accessibility, enhanced connection between participants, the formation of a space to explore challenging subject matter, the production of rich data, and the creation of diverse body maps. We also discuss shortcomings and challenges which those considering the method should be aware of: increased logistical burden, demands related to space, IT difficulties, the danger of over-sharing, and diminished cohort sizes. To our knowledge, this is the first paper to report on body mapping facilitated via web-based workshops. Here, we seek to provide practical advice and useful insights for others hoping to utilise body mapping online.

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Conducting Interviews during the COVID-19 Pandemic and Beyond

Cited by 21 publications

References 46 publications

Working as frontline health facilitators, service providers, program supporters, and social health activists in Indian hilly terrain areas: A qualitative study of accredited social health activists’ experiences before and during the COVID-19 pandemic

Working as frontline health facilitators, service providers, program supporters, and social health activists in Indian hilly terrain areas: A qualitative study of accredited social health activists’ experiences before and during the COVID-19 pandemic

Water governance on the streets of Scotland: How frontline public workers encounter and respond to tensions in delivering water services with communities

Exploring Embodied Experience via Videoconferencing: A Method for Body Mapping Online

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