Thank you for agreeing to participate in the focus group discussion. This document is intended to provide you with information about the study and your role within it. In order to participate in the study you MUST be a male or female registered student at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg campus and over the age of 18 years.
My name is Betty Chebitok, a post graduate student at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg campus. As part of my master’s degree, am conducting a study on “knowledge of contraceptives, attitudes towards contraceptive use, and perceptions of sexual risk, among university students” I would like to know what you understand by contraceptives, different types of contraceptives, when to use contraceptives, opinions on sexual risks, barriers to contraceptive use and your opinions on ways to minimize these barriers. By conducting the research, I hope to get understanding of your perceptions on issues related to contraceptive use.
The focus group process
The discussion will last about two hours. In the focus group the researcher will ask the group various questions about contraceptives for example what do you know about contraceptives? how you obtained information? who is in charge of using contraceptives in relationships? Why do students use contraceptives, what problems men and women face in using contraceptives? whether culture, religion and gender affect decisions on contraceptive use, barriers to contraceptive use and your opinions on how to promote contraceptive use. The research is looking at your opinions and experiences on this social issue therefore, there is no right or wrong answers. You are encouraged to talk freely and informally. You have no obligation to answer any of the questions that you do not want to. Your participation in the focus group is completely voluntary and you are also free to leave the study any time you wish to with no negative consequences.
Recording the discussion
The focus group discussion will be recorded with a digital device. This is to ensure that the researcher is completely focused on the discussion and is not being distracted with taking detailed notes, however small notes might be taken as the discussion goes by. These recording will then be transcribed in order to analyse what has been said in the group.
Confidentiality
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Your identity will be kept confidential in the process by using the pseudonym (fake name) of your choice. The pseudonym will be used during the discussion in the focus group, in the transcription of the discussion as well as the final research dissertation. As the discussion is taking place in a group setting, you will be asked to sign a confidentiality pledge stating that everything said in the focus group discussion will be kept confidential. By promising to keep what is discussed in the focus group confidential, you are agreeing not to reveal the identity of anyone in the group or what was said by them to anyone outside the group. However, please be advised that I cannot guarantee confidentiality even if pledge is signed. For this reason, you will not be asked to discuss any personal details concerning your contraceptive use, pregnancy or sexual life, but will instead be asked general questions about what other students do and think. It is also recommended that you do not disclose any sensitive information about yourself or mention the name of the student you are referring to when taking part in the discussion.
What happens after the focus group?
After the discussion, I will take the recordings and transcribe the information into written form. In the process I will still refer you by your pseudonym. These transcriptions will then be analysed and a report will be produced. The report will be used for my master’s degree in Educational Psychology and it will be examined by at least two staff members and one external examiner in the Discipline of Psychology.
The data will be available to me as the researcher and my supervisor. The data may also be analysed further in future studies. The findings of the study might also be reported at conferences and they may be used to write journal articles. In all these, your identity will be kept confidential by using your pseudonym. A brief synopsis of the findings will be made available to you upon request.
Storage of the research data
The transcriptions of the discussion will be kept for future research purposes such as additional analysis. They will be stored for five years in a locked cabinet in my supervisor’s office, as will any other materials relating to the research. To keep your identity confidential, all the data will be stored separately from information which links it to the pseudonym you used.
Individual interviews
After participating in the focus group, you may be asked to participate in a separate, personal interview as well. If you would like to do this, you will receive details of the process.
Possible benefits of participating in the study
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By participating in the research you could benefit directly from discussing the issues surrounding contraceptive use with other university students. You could benefit indirectly from the research as the findings may assist in designing interventions for students surrounding awareness and easy access to contraceptives when needed.
At the time I do not foresee any risk that the study may cause you by participating in the research.
If you need advice on further health management or the research raises other social or emotional distress you can visit the Campus Clinic or the Student Counselling Services. At the campus clinic you can get information and assistance on HIV testing, pregnancy testing, sexual advice, contraceptives and information about contraceptives. At the clinic you can book an appointment to either Sr Govender or Sr Peters via email [email protected] and [email protected]. You can also approach the Child and Family Centre at the University, for an appointment with an intern psychologist in case of any emotional distress caused by this study (Ms N Naidoo:
[email protected]; Tel: 033 260 5166).
Additional
If you have any questions you would like to ask, you are welcome to contact me using the details at the bottom of the page (contacts removed for privacy purposes).
If you have any questions, you may also contact my supervisor:
Dr. Mary van der Riet 033 260 6163;
Email: [email protected]
If you have any ethical concerns about the study you can also contact Ms. Mariette Snyman of the Humanities and Social Science Research Ethics Committee (Tel: 031 260 8350) Email [email protected]
Thank you for your time and participation. I hope this is an interesting and rewarding experience for you.
Sincerely, Betty Chebitok RESEARCHER Dr. Mary van der Riet SUPERVISOR
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