by Veena Sharma
MUMBAI, APR 20, 2016: As part of the ongoing study on children of migrant construction workers, a four day training workshop was organised, for teams from Delhi, Ahmedabad and Mumbai by Don Bosco Research Centre (DBRC), Mumbai from April 5 to 8.
The participants were briefed on what the study was about, what it involved and how it was to be conducted in their respective cities. During the course of the training workshop, participants were told about their roles and the methodology of the study.
After a welcome note by the DBRC CEO, Dakshayani Madangopal and introduction of the participants, Dr Susan Mathew— welcomed the resource person, Professor Anil Kumar of TISS from School of Health Systems Study.
Professor Kumar discussed the ‘Household interview schedule’ with the participants. This was followed by queries and mock interviews. The interview schedule for children below nine years was discussed in the post-lunch session.
This was again followed by a practice session of mock interviews. The participants were actively involved and discussed various queries pertaining to their cities. For children between 10-18 years, the interview schedule was discussed on the second day by Professor RR Bhagat of the International Institute of Population Sciences (IIPS).
He highlighted the intricacies of interpreting and documenting the responses of the subjects. This too was followed by queries and mock sessions. Dr Nilesh Gawde of the Tata institute of Social Sciences demonstrated the use of Anthropometric instruments. He demonstrated the use of a Stadiometer for measuring heights, the Infantometer for heights of infants and the weighing scale. He meticulously explained the steps involved and precautions to be taken in the use of each instrument.
‘Sampling’ was the topic for the next session and Professor Kumar discussed, identifying and listing of construction sites, inclusion-exclusion criteria, making sampling frame and final sample selection procedures.
Hemalatha Anil Kumar of DBRC in her session talked of ethical constraints and standard operating procedures during the conduct of the study. On the penultimate day, the participants were taken to a construction site for hands- on training.
Household listing and sample selection of households was carried out. This field training was supervised by Reshmi Nair of International Institute of Population Sciences. The participants got to interview the householders and their children. In the review session on the final day, feedback and queries were discussed. Before their departure, the participants were given their anthropometric instruments which they will use in their respective cities, with a promise to deliver their best to make this study a success.
