Research ethics in context: understanding the vulnerabilities, agency and resourcefulness of research participants living along the Thai-Myanmar border
Background Research ethics guidelines set a high bar for conducting research with vulnerable populations, often resulting in their exclusion from beneficial research. Our study aims to better characterise participants’ vulnerabilities, agency, resourcefulness and sources of support. Methods We unde...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Journal article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Oxford University Press
2020
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| _version_ | 1797053484337463296 |
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| author | Khirikoekkong, N Jatupornpimol, N Nosten, S Asarath, S-A Hanboonkunupakarn, B McGready, R Nosten, F Roest, J Parker, M Kelley, M Cheah, PY |
| author_facet | Khirikoekkong, N Jatupornpimol, N Nosten, S Asarath, S-A Hanboonkunupakarn, B McGready, R Nosten, F Roest, J Parker, M Kelley, M Cheah, PY |
| author_sort | Khirikoekkong, N |
| collection | OXFORD |
| description | Background
Research ethics guidelines set a high bar for conducting research with vulnerable populations, often resulting in their exclusion from beneficial research. Our study aims to better characterise participants’ vulnerabilities, agency, resourcefulness and sources of support.
Methods
We undertook qualitative research around two clinical studies involving migrant women living along the Thai–Myanmar border. We conducted 32 in-depth interviews and 10 focus group discussions with research participants, families, researchers and key informants.
Results
We found that being ‘undocumented’ is at the core of many structural vulnerabilities, reflecting political, economic, social and health needs. Although migrant women lead challenging lives, they have a support network that includes family, employers, community leaders, non-governmental organisations and research networks. Migrant women choose to participate in research to access quality healthcare, gain knowledge and obtain extra money. However, research has the potential to exacerbate existing vulnerabilities, such as the burdens of cross-border travel, foregoing work and being more visible as migrants.
Conclusions
Our study confirms that research is important to provide evidence-based care and was viewed by participants as offering many benefits, but it also has hidden burdens. Migrant women exercised agency and resourcefulness when navigating challenges in their lives and research participation.
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| first_indexed | 2024-03-06T18:44:24Z |
| format | Journal article |
| id | oxford-uuid:0e03dc75-c3d2-4b00-8b41-f277b105794c |
| institution | University of Oxford |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-06T18:44:24Z |
| publishDate | 2020 |
| publisher | Oxford University Press |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | oxford-uuid:0e03dc75-c3d2-4b00-8b41-f277b105794c2022-03-26T09:43:35ZResearch ethics in context: understanding the vulnerabilities, agency and resourcefulness of research participants living along the Thai-Myanmar borderJournal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_dcae04bcuuid:0e03dc75-c3d2-4b00-8b41-f277b105794cEnglishSymplectic ElementsOxford University Press2020Khirikoekkong, NJatupornpimol, NNosten, SAsarath, S-AHanboonkunupakarn, BMcGready, RNosten, FRoest, JParker, MKelley, MCheah, PYBackground Research ethics guidelines set a high bar for conducting research with vulnerable populations, often resulting in their exclusion from beneficial research. Our study aims to better characterise participants’ vulnerabilities, agency, resourcefulness and sources of support. Methods We undertook qualitative research around two clinical studies involving migrant women living along the Thai–Myanmar border. We conducted 32 in-depth interviews and 10 focus group discussions with research participants, families, researchers and key informants. Results We found that being ‘undocumented’ is at the core of many structural vulnerabilities, reflecting political, economic, social and health needs. Although migrant women lead challenging lives, they have a support network that includes family, employers, community leaders, non-governmental organisations and research networks. Migrant women choose to participate in research to access quality healthcare, gain knowledge and obtain extra money. However, research has the potential to exacerbate existing vulnerabilities, such as the burdens of cross-border travel, foregoing work and being more visible as migrants. Conclusions Our study confirms that research is important to provide evidence-based care and was viewed by participants as offering many benefits, but it also has hidden burdens. Migrant women exercised agency and resourcefulness when navigating challenges in their lives and research participation. |
| spellingShingle | Khirikoekkong, N Jatupornpimol, N Nosten, S Asarath, S-A Hanboonkunupakarn, B McGready, R Nosten, F Roest, J Parker, M Kelley, M Cheah, PY Research ethics in context: understanding the vulnerabilities, agency and resourcefulness of research participants living along the Thai-Myanmar border |
| title | Research ethics in context: understanding the vulnerabilities, agency and resourcefulness of research participants living along the Thai-Myanmar border |
| title_full | Research ethics in context: understanding the vulnerabilities, agency and resourcefulness of research participants living along the Thai-Myanmar border |
| title_fullStr | Research ethics in context: understanding the vulnerabilities, agency and resourcefulness of research participants living along the Thai-Myanmar border |
| title_full_unstemmed | Research ethics in context: understanding the vulnerabilities, agency and resourcefulness of research participants living along the Thai-Myanmar border |
| title_short | Research ethics in context: understanding the vulnerabilities, agency and resourcefulness of research participants living along the Thai-Myanmar border |
| title_sort | research ethics in context understanding the vulnerabilities agency and resourcefulness of research participants living along the thai myanmar border |
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