Form 3 Control Focus Group Survey Instrument

DRAFT

Form Approved

OMB No. 0920-XXXX

Exp. Date __xx/xx/20xx__

Lebanon: Psychological Impact on Communities Affected by Landmines¹

Harvard Humanitarian Initiative, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA

Focus Group #1: Mothers of Small Children, Discussion Guide

Informed Consent

Hello, my name is ___________________________ and I am working with a research center at Harvard University to better understand the effects of cluster munitions and unexploded remnants of war on households and communities. We would very much appreciate your participation in a focus group that asks you about your family, your work, and your opinions and perceptions on your living in this community and your plans for the future. We think this information will be helpful in guiding the social and economic development of communities affected by landmines and the effects of de-mining activities in your area. The focus group usually takes 2 hours to complete. Whatever information you provide will be safeguarded to the fullest extent possible and we do not plan to share any information that might identify individual participants. We will not record your name or the names of your family members.

Participation in this focus group is voluntary and you can choose not to answer any you do not wish to answer. You can choose to stop participating at any time without obligation. However, we hope that you will participate in this focus group since we believe your views are extremely important and will benefit your family, neighborhood, and village/city. The study is funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the United States.

At this time, do you want to ask me anything about the focus group? Y N

May I begin the discussion now? Y N

Signature of interviewee: _______________________Date: _________________

Signature of interviewee: _______________________Date: _________________

Signature of interviewee: _______________________Date: _________________

Signature of interviewee: _______________________Date: _________________

Signature of interviewee: _______________________Date: _________________

Signature of interviewee: _______________________Date: _________________

Signature of interviewee: _______________________Date: _________________

Signature of interviewee: _______________________Date: _________________

Signature of interviewee: _______________________Date: _________________

Signature of interviewee: _______________________Date: _________________

Signature of interviewee: _______________________Date: _________________

Signature of interviewee: _______________________Date: _________________

Signature of interviewee: _______________________Date: _________________

Signature of interviewee: _______________________Date: _________________

Signature of interviewee: _______________________Date: _________________

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Respondent(s) agree (s) to be interviewed: Y N

Introduction of topic –

Group Leader (GL): Thank you for taking the time to talk with us today about landmines (or the broader “explosive remnants of war”) and their relationship to you, your family, and your village. Over the next 1-2 hours, we will ask broad questions on what it means to be a mother of young children in a village that is now at peace and making an effort to build and move forward but is still contending with the presence of cluster bombs and landmines.

Everything that is said in our discussion today is confidential and will not be shared outside this room except for the purposes of research; no statements made will be identified with any individual outside this room. Every comment made, every opinion expressed is valid – there is no right or wrong answer or any “correct opinion” to any of these questions or issues, so please do not hesitate to state what you really think and feel, even if it disagrees with another person’s comments. We only ask that you let one person speak at a time.

We would like to tape your answers and take notes on what you say. Neither the tape nor the coded answers will be shared with anyone outside this room. All the information collected here today will be kept locked and only accessible to us.

GL: [Asks for first names and to describe age and gender of children]

General

1. Tell us about your village, your daily activities, your husband’s work, how you came to be in this neighborhood, your life during the war.

2. Describe your access to a regular food supply, clean water, shelter, and income (how the family supports itself).

1. If there are barriers to any of these, please explain.

2. If there are threats to any of these, please explain.

Perceptions of Cluster Bomb and Landmine Risk

1. Tell us whether you think the presence of cluster bombs and landmines in and around your village is a significant problem.

   1. If so, why?

   2. If not, why not?

2. Do you think the concern about cluster bombs/landmines is changing?

   1. If so, what factors have influenced that change?

   2. If not, why not?

3. What risks do cluster bombs/landmines pose for your children?

   1. How have these risks become lesser or greater since July 2006?

   2. Has the presence of cluster bombs/landmines affected you physically or emotionally?

      1. If so, in what way?

      2. If not, why do you think not?

4. In your opinion, how should the problem of cluster bombs/landmines be managed?

5. Describe how your children became/become aware of cluster bombs/ landmine risks.

   1. If your children are aware of cluster bombs/landmines, have you noticed that it has affected them physically or emotionally?

      1. If so, how?

      2. If not, why do you think not?

   2. If they are not aware of cluster bombs/landmine risks, what are the reasons for this?

6. What other concerns to you have for your children growing up in this village?

   1. How do these compare with the concerns for cluster bombs/ landmines?

Behaviors based on perceptions

1. What types of activities are you able or not able to do because of cluster bombs/landmine concerns near your village?

2. If you felt that cluster bombs/landmines were less of a concern than they are now, how would you change your daily/weekly activities (how might you act differently?)

3. What types of activities are your children able or not able to do because of cluster bombs/landmine risks?

4. If you felt that cluster bombs/landmines were less of a concern than they are now, in what ways would you like to see your children’s activities change? (What types of additional activities would your children be able to do if cluster bombs/landmines were less of a problem)?

Assessment of Security: Plans for future

1. Does this village feel like home to you and your family?

   1. If so, what about it makes it seem that way?

   2. If not, why not?

2. Describe the goals and future plans if any you envision for your children and family:

   1. Staying or leaving this village

   2. Increasing or decreasing the size of the family (number of children,

   3. Taking care of the household

3. What factors inform each of these plans?

4. Do you feel that you have the power to improve your living situation?

   1. If so, what is it about your circumstances that empower you?

   2. If not, what are the factors that make you feel less empowered?

5. If you could have the power to create an ideal living situation, what would you change?

   1. How would you change the cluster bombs/landmine problem (if you feel it remains a problem)?

1 Public reporting burden of this collection of information is estimated to average 2 hours per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden to CDC/ATSDR Information Collection Review Office, 1600 Clifton Road NE, MS D-74, Atlanta, Georgia 30333; ATTN: PRA (0920-XXXX).

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