Huygens P, Kajura E, Seeley J, Barton T
Programme on AIDS/Uganda Virus Research Institute, Entebbe.
Soc Sci Med. 1996 Jan;42(2):221-31. doi: 10.1016/0277-9536(95)00088-7.
During the past five years, researchers from the Medical Research Council and Uganda Virus Research Institute (MRC/UVRI) Programme on AIDS have studied sexual behaviour to better understand the risk and the spread of HIV infection in a rural Ugandan community. This paper aims at a reflective critique of the application of various methods of studying sexual behaviour in a series of six studies within the programme. The objectives of these various studies have been different: ranging from the natural history of HIV-infection to marital instability to household coping. This variety of foci has led to multiple research strategies. Three methodological factors influencing the research and the results were identified: the research model; the meanings of research questions; and personal factors affecting the interview relationship. Although the impact of these factors could not be entirely eliminated, precautions could be taken to diminish these biases. Comparing data obtained through different methods proved useful not only as a validity test but also as a mean to more deeply interpret the data according to culture, linguistics and society. Lessons learned during this piece of work include the importance to the quality of data by inviting local communities to participate in the research process; broadening the field of sexuality from a health-oriented model to reach an anthropological perspective; considering the influence of research organization on the context in which sexual behaviour takes place as a part of the study objectives and promoting an inter-disciplinary dialogue overcoming dogma and prejudices.
在过去五年中，医学研究理事会和乌干达病毒研究所（MRC/UVRI）艾滋病项目的研究人员对性行为进行了研究，以便更好地了解乌干达一个农村社区中艾滋病毒感染的风险和传播情况。本文旨在对该项目六项研究中用于研究性行为的各种方法的应用进行反思性批判。这些不同研究的目标各不相同：从艾滋病毒感染的自然史到婚姻不稳定再到家庭应对。研究重点的多样性导致了多种研究策略。确定了影响研究及结果的三个方法学因素：研究模式；研究问题的意义；以及影响访谈关系的个人因素。尽管这些因素的影响无法完全消除，但可以采取预防措施来减少这些偏差。通过不同方法获得的数据进行比较，不仅被证明是一种效度检验，而且是根据文化、语言和社会更深入解释数据的一种手段。在这项工作中吸取的经验教训包括邀请当地社区参与研究过程对数据质量的重要性；将性取向领域从以健康为导向的模式拓宽到人类学视角；将研究组织对性行为发生背景的影响作为研究目标的一部分加以考虑；以及促进跨学科对话，克服教条和偏见。
