Ethical issues in collecting data from children

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CALL FOR INFORMATION: Collecting Data from Children

As HIV/AIDS programs and research focus increasingly on children, there is

an urgent need to ensure that organizations gathering data from children

meet ethical standards, in accordance with the UN Convention on the Rights

of the Child. This internationally-recognized standard requires that

researchers guarantee children's confidentiality, take the opinions and

perspectives of children into account in study design and execution,

and--above all--do no inadvertent harm to young study participants.

USAID, UNICEF, FHI, and Horizons are collaborating to develop practical

guidelines to ensure ethical data collection among children in difficult

circumstances, in particular children affected by HIV/AIDS. The

guidelines will address ethical standards, research protocols,

interviewing guidelines, and approaches to child participation for both

children and adolescents.

Please send information about data collection among children, including

references to existing guidelines and related materials, examples from the

field, or any further suggestions.

Many thanks,

Schenk,

Horizons Program/Population Council

4301 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 280

Washington DC 20008 USA

Tel: 202 237-9431

Fax: 202 237-8410

E-mail: kschenk@...