Data collection methods included key
informant interviews, focus group discussions,
in-depth interviews and ongoing participant
observation, as well as structured observations
and entomological surveys[12]. Key informant
interviews were conducted with all village
health volunteers about villagers’ awareness
and perceptions about DF, and their
participation in prevention, control and
development activities. Four focus group
discussions were conducted with mothers or
other family caretakers of children who had
been infected with dengue, to gain insight into
their understanding of DF and their
involvement in prevention and control
measures. In-depth interviews were then
conducted with 29 women whose children had
been infected in the past year or during the
research period, including about their
participation in dengue prevention and control
activities and their views about control
programme activities. Women were also asked
about changes in their village, and so could
speak of issues about which they may have
been reticent publicly. These data were
supplemented by questionnaires with 38 other
women, representing 15% of households
where children had no history of dengue, on
their participation in prevention and control
activities. Sixteen interviews were conducted
with health staff at health centres, provincial
and national levels on community participation.
All data were entered into computer, codes
were developed, and the data were analysed
thematically.
Ethics approval to conduct this research
study was granted by the Human Research
Ethics Committee of The University of
Melbourne (Australia), the Ministry of Health
(Cambodia), and WHO/TDR. All potential
participants were provided with plain language
Participation Information Sheets in Khmer
(Cambodia’s national language), and the project
was explained to them verbally. Consent to
participate was verbal, since the collection of
signatures held negative connotations for most
people.