Before participating in the ACHIEVE program, I held the belief that rigorous research was synonymous with adhering strictly to established scientific protocols and methodologies. However, my visits to the Greater Masaka and the Bidibidi Refugee Settlement in Uganda profoundly reshaped my understanding of research practices. I gained insights through observation and was motivated by the innovative and scientific approaches employed in research involving vulnerable populations.
Particularly noteworthy were the educational and empowering interventions designed to enhance adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART), instilling hope among young individuals receiving ART through the Suubi initiative, and the inventive methods to improve financial literacy and resilience. I found that fostering rapport and trust with participants throughout these interventions resulted in a sense of ownership of these initiatives. The insights gained from these ICHAD interventions field visits have guided me when preparing my protocol for ethics application for my study, which aims to explore the effectiveness of using edutainment YouTube channel in improving access to and utilization of interventions designed to prevent HIV/AIDS among young adult single mothers employed in the informal sector in Rwanda. The community participatory approach was one of the many methodological approaches I learned which I found relevant to my research and subsequently I intend to build one of the phases of my study around it.
The process of scriptwriting for health edutainment drama follows a structured methodology that involves crafting a storyline, outlining character attributes, and establishing the narratives that will shape the script. My exploration of community-based research techniques has introduced me to co-design methods. I intend to implement this approach in the development of video content for my intervention, which aims to utilize YouTube as a platform to engage young single mothers employed in the informal hospitality sector regarding HIV/AIDS prevention, highlighting the advantages of utilizing preventive services.