Research consultancy

QUESTION 1

1. TOPIC

Assessing the effects of NGOs on the resilience of OVCs in Mbuya parish; a case study of reach out mbuya HIV/AIDS initiative.

1. Statement of the problem

The striking poverty, disease burden especially HIV/AIDS and the political unrests worldwide continue to leave many children orphaned and greatly vulnerable. According to the situational analysis of OVCS in Uganda conducted in 2009 by the Ministry of Gender, Labor and Social Development, 96% of the children are vulnerable due to mostly orphanage as well as the socially, economically and politically un conducive environment in which they are growing. Although there has been increased commitment on the side of the government and NGOs to protect the rights and enhance their resilience, OVCS are missing out on key basic needs and this therefore has led to the questioning on the relevance of NGOs towards the resilience. The OVCs are faced with multidisciplinary challenges ranging from health, education, food security, legal services, psychosocial support. About 11% of total children under the age of 15 in Uganda are orphaned and 38% of the children under the age of 15 are vulnerable (Misinde, 2019), However despite the efforts by NGOs OVCs are failing to be resilient towards the challenges brought about by the HIV/AIDS as indicated by the UBOS, 2012 that 461,631 OVCs were child labourers, 41,822 children heading households, 121,723 girl-children who were mothers and 944,875 idle children. This therefore further indicates that the Presence of NGOs has not aided OVCs much to be in position to be resilient and overcome the challenges brought about by HIV/AIDS, It is against this Background that this study intends to Assesses the effects of NGOs on the resilience of OVCs in Mbuya parish A case study of Reach Out Mbuya HIV/AIDS Initiative.

1. General Objective

To assesses the effects of NGOs on the resilience of OVCs.

1. Specific Objectives

• To examine the effects of education on OVC resilience at Reach out Mbuya HIV/AIDS Initiative.
• To investigate the effects of psychosocial support on OVC resilience at Reach out Mbuya HIV/AIDS Initiative.
• To determine the effects of health services on OVC resilience at Reach out Mbuya HIV/AIDS Initiative.
• To assess the effects of food security on OVC resilience at Reach out Mbuya HIV/AIDS Initiative.

1. Scope of the study

The scope of the study is divided into Time scope, content scope and Geographical scope and presented below;

Time Scope

The period of data to be considered from Reach out Mbuya HIV/AIDS Initiative will be from 2010 to 2020; this is because, during this period, there has been an Increase on the number of OVCs in the streets of Kampala and the NGOs also increased in Kampala, while the study will be carried out from June to December 2021.

Content scope

The study will concentrate on the following variables; the effects of education on OVC resilience at Reach out Mbuya HIV/AIDS Initiative, effects of psychosocial support on OVC resilience, effects of health services on OVC resilience at Reach out Mbuya HIV/AIDS Initiative, the effects of food security on OVC resilience at Reach out Mbuya HIV/AIDS Initiative.

The geographical scope

The study will be carried out at Reach Out Mbuya HIV/AIDS Initiative.

1. Significance of the study

To the policy makers at ministry and local government levels, findings may inform revision of existing policies and or development of new policy concepts.

To the advocators in the support of OVCS, findings may serve as empirical basis for programming and resource allocation implementers. In the academic field, the study results will serve a reference source and as a basis for subsequently researches in related areas.

The study findings will be so significant in academic, policy and service delivery circles. In the first place data on the available NGOs that will be captured during the study will be instrumental in linking up service users and providers. This will be possible as the study will avail information on NGOs as well as capturing the views of the users. This will be a useful guide in formulating and implementing appropriate reforms to improve accessibility to NGOs services not only in the study area but also in Uganda as a whole.

From the academic point of view, the study will make a useful contribution onto the pool of knowledge about the phenomenon under study.

The findings of this study will generate useful debates which may in future provide the basis for further research.

1. Justification of the study

Due to the disproportionate presence of the three factors (poverty, disease and armed conflict) on which the high numbers of OVCS is blamed on in the world, undoubtedly Africa has the highest numbers of OVCS (UDHS, 2011). On the national scene, while the accurate statistics on vulnerable children is not known with certainty, Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UDHS, 2011) shows that orphans constitute 14.1% of the 17.1 million of the children are under 18 years. Despite the inability to accurately estimate the number of vulnerable children in the country, the poverty levels, disease burden as well as the country’s political turmoil especially in the North and not forgetting the many natural disasters that have hit the country in the recent past, the level of vulnerability the children are exposed to is steadily increasing (Kalibala & Elson, 2009) and with this background it is therefore imperative to Assess the effects of NGOs on the resilience of OVCs in Mbuya parish; a case study of reach out mbuya HIV/AIDS initiative.

1. Conceptual frame work

The gross abuse of children’s rights, lack of Educational resources, and general lack of basic needs due to their vulnerability amplifies the need to question their resilience. Therefore in order to achieve the objectives of this study as stated above, the study variables will investigate the following variables in a systematic pattern of analysis presented in figure 1.1 below.

This study will investigate the relationship between the Effects of NGOs (Independent variable) and Resilience of ovcs (dependant variables) by Orphans and Vulnerable Children. The dimensions of effects of NGOs include; Provision of education, Provision of psychosocial support, Provision of Health services and Provision of food security while the Resiliance of OVCs is measured on; The ability to attend school, Ability to have good shelter, Quality health services and Ability to have Legal services.

1. The research design

Research design is the framework of research methods and techniques chosen by a researcher.

Descriptive research design; Descriptive research is defined as a research method that describes the characteristics of the population or phenomenon that is being studied.

Justification

Descriptive research design is good for analyzing the population and therefore it is the most relevant for this study.

1. Methods of data collection
2. Self-administered Questionnaire
3. Interview guides

Self-administered Questionnaire

1. The questionnaire enables the respondents to answer at their own time, since they receive the questionnaire they can therefore plan the time to answer the questions asked.
2. The questionnaire saves time for the researcher since it can cover a large number of respondents at a short time.

Interview Guide

1. Interviews are an effective qualitative method for getting people to talk about their feelings, opinions and experiences.
2. The views of the respondents are a personal reflection of their personal experience relating to the study topic.

• Open ended questions allow ease of expression and capture of vast information from study participants.

Question two

1. Study population: Study population is defined as the entire group of people that a researcher wishes to investigate (Dikko, 2016) while Sample size determination is the act of choosing the number of observations or replicates to include in a statistical sample
2. Probability sampling: Probability sampling is defined as a sampling technique in which the researcher chooses samples from a larger population using a method based on the theory of probability (Lamm,& Lamm, 2019)

Some of the examples of probability sampling include;

• Simple random sampling; A simple random sample is a subset of a statistical population in which each member of the subset has an equal probability of being chosen
• Systematic sampling ; is a type of probability sampling method in which sample members from a larger population are selected according to a random starting point but with a fixed, periodic interval. This interval, called the sampling interval, is calculated by dividing the population size by the desired sample size.
• Stratified sampling; Stratified sampling is where the population is divided into strata (or subgroups) and a. random sample is taken from each subgroup.
• Cluster sampling; Cluster sampling is a probability sampling technique where researchers divide the population into multiple groups (clusters) for research. Researchers then select random groups with a simple random or systematic random sampling technique for data collection and data analysis.

Non probability sampling method; Non-probability sampling is defined as a sampling technique in which the researcher selects samples based on the subjective judgment of the researcher rather than random selection

Some of the examples of non-probability sampling include;

Convenience sampling; is a non-probability sampling technique where samples are selected from the population only because they are conveniently available to the researcher

Purposive sampling; Purposive sampling is intentional selection of informants based on their ability to elucidate a specific theme, concept, or phenomenon.

Merit

This type of sampling saves time

It enables the researcher to select respondents who have knowledge regarding the subject topic under study.

Demerit

Purposive sampling method is biased since all the respondents are not given equal chances in the study selection process.

Snowball sampling; Is a recruitment technique in which research participants are asked to assist researchers in identifying other potential subjects.

Quota sampling; Means to take a much tailored sample that’s in proportion to some characteristic or trait of a population. For example, a researcher could divide a population by the state they live in, income or education level, or sex

A voluntary sample; A voluntary response sample can be defined as a sample made up of participants who have voluntarily chosen to participate as a part of the sample group

1. Simple random sampling

The following are some of the benefits of simple random sampling;

1. All the respondents have equal chance of being selected during the process of participation in the study.
2. There is no Bias

• This sampling technique is good for large population

1. This sampling Technique is cost effective

1. Saturation point

Refers to the point in the research process when no new information is discovered in data analysis, and this redundancy signals to researchers that data collection may cease.

QUESTION THREE

1. Questionnaire

A questionnaire is a research instrument that consists of a set of questions or other types of prompts that aims to collect information from a respondent.

A research questionnaire is typically a mix of close ended questions and open ended questions. Open-ended, long-form questions offer the respondent the ability to elaborate on their thoughts.

The questionnaire is designed in a manner that motivates respondents with simple structured questions with the option of providing any addition information to the structured questionnaire as an option to obtain relevant data from the respondents.

The questionnaire is structured with both close-ended and open-ended questions.

The questionnaire has a Likert scale 1-5 indicating the level of a respondents’ agreement or disagreement, where 1 represents Strongly Disagree and 5 strongly agree.

After designing the questionnaire the researcher seeks permission from the authorities responsible to the area where the research is going to be carried out.

The researcher after getting permission goes straight to administer the questions to the respondents.

1. Interviews

A research interview involves an interviewer, who coordinates the process of the conversation and asks questions, and an interviewee, who responds to those questions. Interviews can be conducted face-to-face or over the telephone (Pickering, 2019).

Merits of using interviews

1. The interviews are used because they enable one to one discussions
2. It enables even those who can’t read and write to be able to participate in the study.

• It is possible to understand some ones’ facial expression during the interviews.

Disadvantage

1. Interviews take a lot of time
2. Interviews cannot be used for a study with a large sample size

• Interviewees may fear to give information

1. Interviews may not be used in areas where the researcher is not conversant with the language

Focus Group Discussion

This is a type of research tool in which the participants are grouped and made to discuss on a specific topics.

Focus group discussion involves the participants being grouped into different groups depending on the members’ interest of belonging in a specific group.

When the participants have been grouped into different groups they then discuss about a specific topic.

Merits of Focus group discussion

It provides a diverse set of responses based on interviewee profiles. Focus groups provide a useful way to measure the reaction of customers to a new corporate strategy, proposed service, or a new product. The individuals who participate in these gatherings can provide immediate ideas that is essential during a specific study.

Focus groups can confirm insights obtained from other methodologies. Qualitative research methods can produce a significant amount of data about a concept. The only problem with that approach for some investigators is that the information can feel impersonal or lack authenticity. If the findings from previous efforts seem questionable, then a focus group can either confirm or deny the insights that researchers obtained through the use of other methodologies.

Once the responses get cataloged after a focus group session, then the researchers can continue their pursuit of a concept or make the necessary adjustments to address the pain points brought up in the conversation.

There is clear discussion of the topic and therefore the researcher is able to get enough information concerning the topic understand investigation.

Understand met and unmet needs.

The researcher is able to hear the respondents speaking in their own.

Uncover ideas and issues that initially may nay not have been considered but are important to the researcher.

Demerits of Focus group discussion

There is no privacy

Some of the respondents may fear to give information since they fear they colleagues or supervisors.

This technique requires a lot of time

This technique is may not be applicable to organizations were the respondents are busy.

REFERENCES

Dikko, M., 2016. Establishing Construct Validity and Reliability: Pilot Testing of a Qualitative Interview for Research in Takaful (Islamic Insurance). Qualitative Report, 21(3).

Kalibala, S. and Elson, L., 2009. Situation Analysis of Vulnerable Children in Uganda 2009: Protecting Hope. Final Report. New York, NY: Population Council. Accessed July, 12, p.2017.

Lamm, A.J. and Lamm, K.W., 2019. Using non-probability sampling methods in agricultural and extension education research. Journal of International Agricultural and Extension Education, 26(1), pp.52-59.

Misinde, C., 2019. Child living conditions and Orphanhood status in Uganda: An extension of the application of the intrinsic value approach to child poverty measurement. Child Indicators Research, 12(1), pp.277-298.

Pickering, J., Stehman, S.V., Tyukavina, A., Potapov, P., Watt, P., Jantz, S.M., Bholanath, P. and Hansen, M.C., 2019. Quantifying the trade-off between cost and precision in estimating area of forest loss and degradation using probability sampling in Guyana. Remote Sensing of Environment, 221, pp.122-135.

UDHS, I., 2011. Uganda demographic and health survey. Uganda Bureau of Statistics, Kampala Uganda.