rumours and clinical trials a retrospective examination of a paediatric malnutrition study in zambia, southern africau201c谣言u201d和儿科营养不良研究的临床试验回顾检查在赞比亚,非洲南部.pdfVIP

Kingori et al. BMC Public Health 2010, 10:556 /1471-2458/10/556 RESEARCH ARTICLE Open Access ’Rumours’ and clinical trials: a retrospective examination of a paediatric malnutrition study in Zambia, southern Africa Patricia Kingori1*, Maureen Muchimba2†, Bornwell Sikateyo1†, Beatrice Amadi3†, Paul Kelly4† Abstract Background: Many public health researchers conducting studies in resource-constrained settings have experienced negative ‘rumours’ about their work; in some cases they have been reported to create serious challenges and derail studies. However, what may appear superficially as ‘gossip’ or ‘rumours’ can also be regarded and understood as metaphors which represent local concerns. For researchers unaccustomed to having concerns expressed from participants in this manner, possible reactions can be to be unduly perturbed or conversely dismissive. This paper represents a retrospective examination of a malnutrition study conducted by an international team of researchers in Zambia, Southern Africa. The fears of mothers whose children were involved in the study and some of the concerns which were expressed as rumours are also presented. This paper argues that there is an underly- ing logic to these anxieties and to dismiss them simply as ‘rumours’ or ‘gossip’ would be to overlook the historic and socio-economic factors which have contributed to their production. Methods: Qualitative interviews were conducted with the mothers whose children were involved in the study and with the research nurses. Twenty five face-to-face interviews and 2 focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted with mothers. In addition, face-to-face interviews were conducted with research nurses participating in the trial. Results: A prominent anxiety expressed as rumours by the mothers whose children were involved in the study was th