Indigenous or Biomedical Ethics, or Both? A Consideration From Health-Related Ethnographic Research Conducted in a Rural Setting

Generally, conventional biomedically rooted ethical guidelines developed in Western countries for ethnographic research in non-Western countries are often impractical and raise contention. Ethical approval from research ethics committees (RECs) is a significant aspect of the research process. Howeve...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Margaret Wekem Kukeba, Francisca Achaliwie, Brenda Agyeiwaa Poku
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SAGE Publishing 2023-12-01
Series:International Journal of Qualitative Methods
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1177/16094069231220776
_version_ 1797402951796391936
author Margaret Wekem Kukeba
Francisca Achaliwie
Brenda Agyeiwaa Poku
author_facet Margaret Wekem Kukeba
Francisca Achaliwie
Brenda Agyeiwaa Poku
author_sort Margaret Wekem Kukeba
collection DOAJ
description Generally, conventional biomedically rooted ethical guidelines developed in Western countries for ethnographic research in non-Western countries are often impractical and raise contention. Ethical approval from research ethics committees (RECs) is a significant aspect of the research process. However, for researchers wanting to conduct a research study in an African context in a culturally sensitive manner, identifying ethics procedures that meet the demands of RECs while acknowledging the indigenous ethics of the research context creates ethical dilemmas. In this article, we reflect on our experiences conducting a study on child feeding practices in a rural community in Ghana. The aim is to discuss some ethical dilemmas that confront researchers as they seek to adhere to conventional ethical protocols and regulations while respecting the indigenous ethics, values, and practices of the research setting. RECs need to acknowledge that while researchers must uphold core ethical principles, ethics procedures must also meet the contextual requirements of the research participants. Research ethics is an ongoing process subject to re-negotiation and re-interpretation; therefore, RECs should allow researchers to adapt their methods to local circumstances without needing further review. Consequently, RECs must allow for culturally sensitive ethics procedures. These suggestions have the potential to ensure that research projects in Africa are culturally appropriate, increasing the acceptability of research by indigenous communities.
first_indexed 2024-03-09T02:32:33Z
format Article
id doaj.art-7004487e92b94c8d9957bdb8cd728c4d
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 1609-4069
language English
last_indexed 2024-03-09T02:32:33Z
publishDate 2023-12-01
publisher SAGE Publishing
record_format Article
series International Journal of Qualitative Methods
spelling doaj.art-7004487e92b94c8d9957bdb8cd728c4d2023-12-06T12:03:45ZengSAGE PublishingInternational Journal of Qualitative Methods1609-40692023-12-012210.1177/16094069231220776Indigenous or Biomedical Ethics, or Both? A Consideration From Health-Related Ethnographic Research Conducted in a Rural SettingMargaret Wekem KukebaFrancisca AchaliwieBrenda Agyeiwaa PokuGenerally, conventional biomedically rooted ethical guidelines developed in Western countries for ethnographic research in non-Western countries are often impractical and raise contention. Ethical approval from research ethics committees (RECs) is a significant aspect of the research process. However, for researchers wanting to conduct a research study in an African context in a culturally sensitive manner, identifying ethics procedures that meet the demands of RECs while acknowledging the indigenous ethics of the research context creates ethical dilemmas. In this article, we reflect on our experiences conducting a study on child feeding practices in a rural community in Ghana. The aim is to discuss some ethical dilemmas that confront researchers as they seek to adhere to conventional ethical protocols and regulations while respecting the indigenous ethics, values, and practices of the research setting. RECs need to acknowledge that while researchers must uphold core ethical principles, ethics procedures must also meet the contextual requirements of the research participants. Research ethics is an ongoing process subject to re-negotiation and re-interpretation; therefore, RECs should allow researchers to adapt their methods to local circumstances without needing further review. Consequently, RECs must allow for culturally sensitive ethics procedures. These suggestions have the potential to ensure that research projects in Africa are culturally appropriate, increasing the acceptability of research by indigenous communities.https://doi.org/10.1177/16094069231220776
spellingShingle Margaret Wekem Kukeba
Francisca Achaliwie
Brenda Agyeiwaa Poku
Indigenous or Biomedical Ethics, or Both? A Consideration From Health-Related Ethnographic Research Conducted in a Rural Setting
International Journal of Qualitative Methods
title Indigenous or Biomedical Ethics, or Both? A Consideration From Health-Related Ethnographic Research Conducted in a Rural Setting
title_full Indigenous or Biomedical Ethics, or Both? A Consideration From Health-Related Ethnographic Research Conducted in a Rural Setting
title_fullStr Indigenous or Biomedical Ethics, or Both? A Consideration From Health-Related Ethnographic Research Conducted in a Rural Setting
title_full_unstemmed Indigenous or Biomedical Ethics, or Both? A Consideration From Health-Related Ethnographic Research Conducted in a Rural Setting
title_short Indigenous or Biomedical Ethics, or Both? A Consideration From Health-Related Ethnographic Research Conducted in a Rural Setting
title_sort indigenous or biomedical ethics or both a consideration from health related ethnographic research conducted in a rural setting
url https://doi.org/10.1177/16094069231220776
work_keys_str_mv AT margaretwekemkukeba indigenousorbiomedicalethicsorbothaconsiderationfromhealthrelatedethnographicresearchconductedinaruralsetting
AT franciscaachaliwie indigenousorbiomedicalethicsorbothaconsiderationfromhealthrelatedethnographicresearchconductedinaruralsetting
AT brendaagyeiwaapoku indigenousorbiomedicalethicsorbothaconsiderationfromhealthrelatedethnographicresearchconductedinaruralsetting