Ethical Approaches to Gathering Information from Children and Adolescents in International Settings

Excerpted from AIDSQuest: HIV/AIDS Survey Library, Horizons Program, 2008, Washington, DC: Population Council. (More on AIDSQuest)

The Horizons Program/Population Council and Family Health International/ Impact developed a resource, Ethical Approaches to Gathering Information from Children and Adolescents in International Settings (PDF), for researchers and program managers working with children and adolescents in international settings, including those affected by HIV, on how to gather data among young people in a way that minimizes harm and maximizes benefits. Developed through a multidisciplinary international consultative process, under the leadership of a steering committee including representatives of USAID and UNICEF, this new resource identifies challenges that confront program implementers and investigators and proposes practical approaches to dealing with them. Recognizing that methods for working with adults cannot simply be transferred to young people, this new resource provides case studies that highlight the roles of research and program staff in ensuring that child-related activities are conducted ethically. It also provides references to resources on related topics, including the use of participatory methods with children and assessing children’s needs to plan programs.