Ethnography is an approach to studying the social and cultural norms, mores, values and beliefs, of a group of people. Ethnography stipulates the use of primarily qualitative research methods, to learn about such sensitive topics as substance abuse and sexual behaviour since such topics are reliably captured by survey approaches.
Some of the methods used in the 36 urban slum communities of Chennai for a rapid research ethnographic study include:
Assessments include surveys collecting behavioural risk data and collection and testing of biological samples at baseline and after the intervention is delivered, the efficacy if the intervention will be determined by examining change in risk behaviours, for example; condom usage, or number of partners etc. after the outcome assessment is completed, the intervention will be carried out.
The assessment study carried out in the slum communities gathers data on the participant’s demographics, residential stability, health and drug and alcohol use, sexual risk, condom use. It takes about 20 minutes to complete. In addition the above mentioned data is gathered by means of using ACASI (Audio Computer Assisted Personal Interview)
or CAPI (Computer Assisted Personal Interview).
CAPI gathers various data from the participants on: