1. Assoc. Professor Lucie Cluver and Research team Oxford University & University of Cape Town

2. World’s largest study of children in AIDS- affected families (n=8500) World’s first community survey of HIV-positive adolescents (n=1200) Free child abuse prevention programmes for families in the developing world (n=1300) 4 STUDIES: FAMILIES, MENTAL HEALTH & HIV IN AFRICA First longitudinal study of AIDS- orphanhood in developing world (n=1050).

3. Adolescents & HIV/AIDS Universities: Oxford, UCT, Wits, Curtin, UKZN COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH FOR POLICY

4. THE STORY

5. LUCIE PLS CALL FIELD TEAM URGENTLY. CAR CRASHED INTO 5 RESEARCH ASSISTANTS PLUS DRIVER. CORRUPT POLICE ARRESTED OUR DRIVER. ONE PERSON BLEEDING HEAVILY. SHE IS HIV+ AND NOT DISCLOSED TO ANYONE ON TEAM – SHOULD WE TELL THEM? PLS ADVISE ASAP. PS. CAN WE USE PROJECT MONEY TO PAY FOR MEDICAL EXPENSES AND PRISON BAIL? THE REALITY

6. A: GETTING THE ACCOUNTING WRONG

7. Can be almost any cause: Riots, strikes, floods, fires Under-estimating time needed Staff exhaustion Contracts Some helpful responses: Accept that it will never be perfect Always make Plan B Have a secret Plan C Try to have some back-up cash Encourage team to say as soon as things start going wrong Don’t blame them – problem-solve together Apologise if you messed up. T: TIMETABLES GO OUT THE WINDOW DIARY OF A RANDOMISED TRIAL Day 1. Trial begins Day 2. Start recruiting participants Day 3: MILITARY COUP. Trial stops. DIARY OF A RANDOMISED TRIAL Day 1. Trial begins Day 2. Start recruiting participants Day 3: MILITARY COUP. Trial stops.

8. C: CORRUPTION Corrupt officials, arresting staff Refusing research permits Refusing to give participant help Generalised expectations of bribes etc Some helpful responses: Talk with your team beforehand about this – make a joint decision Talk with your funder (and have some slush money) Know your community and plan in advance – ‘community liasion’

9. Staff dynamics (urban/rural) Staff severe illness Staff major personal issues Staff at risk (homophobia, racial violence etc.) Some helpful responses: Team-building Balancing manager/friend role Vulnerable participants first, staff next priority, research last. D: STAFF DYNAMICS

10. Common causes: Urban: political violence, violent crime Rural: snakes, escaped animals All: road accidents Things that might help: Safety protocols: plan with team Community & leader liaison Local crime leader liaison Travelling in pairs Staff safety has to be the priority in all decisions Insurance and car licenses. Training for all drivers. This is a complete nightmare and never gets better. S: SAFETY

11. R: REDUCING ROAD CRIME Hijacking Robbery Try to have prevention: Train in defensive driving Remove brand names from vehicles Make vehicles look un-cool! Store any research valuables (i.e. tablets, laptops) safely in vehicle. Make sure everyone can do basic car maintenance

12. Common causes: Over-exposure to severe mental health distress, abuse, Working too hard – exhaustion Inability to help sufficiently Leads to staff arguments & tension Some ways of approaching this Regular supervision Counselling for staff Forcing work-life balance Treats, Enforced holidays Staff need to know you’ve got their back Action – referrals and helping kids Openness about mental health in your team V: VICARIOUS TRAUMA AND BURNOUT

13. Common causes Overburdened health/social services Staff burnout Remote, rural areas far from services Some things that help Mapping services before you start Find good professionals Have a social worker to supervise staff Emergency protocols i.e. rape cases Just do stuff if it’s needed – sort out the details later Providing disclosure-handling skills to field staff F: SYSTEM FAILURE

14. We think science is about objectivity, but this is the science of real, stigmatised life. Can research be fun, engaging, sympathetic? Vignettes, normalisation and fun The interviewer is KEY. Empathy, non-judgementalism H: HONESTY AND PARTICIPANTS

15. Can be really tricky Participants move homes Areas get destroyed Cellphones die No administrative data Some things that help Get three names addresses and cell numbers of people who would be able to find them Send back the same interviewers Certificates help people remember and find participants again Selfie photos and bring helpful information This is like detective work: set money aside, and be tenacious! L: LONGITUDINAL FOLLOW-UP

16. Nobody will know your findings if: You don’t actively disseminate You don’t market findings at the right level People/organisations feel they are being attacked Some helpful ideas: Make a list of ‘who needs to know this’ at community, provincial, national, international level Engage when planning the research – make your research more useful Ask how they would like results: presentations/policy briefs/video Use the media M: GETTING THE MESSAGE OUT

17. Get your research out there: Have a clear message Simplify results, don’t try to look clever Use graphs/pictures not words Publishing in journals: worth the hassle (eventually). Give credit to NGOs/governments involved. Z: HAVING THAT ZING FACTOR No cash transfer Child cash transfer

18. Research is messy and disaster-ridden. Problem-solve as you go along. Have a bit of spare cash to help solve problems. Don’t blame your team, or yourself, just keep going KEY MESSAGES It really is worth it in the end.