De-identified dataset from the PhD study: Determinants of Black men's health-seeking behaviours in the primary health care settings of Ga-Rankuwa Township, Tshwane, Pretoria
Description
This dataset was collected as part of the researcher's PhD study. The research, guided by the theory of planned behaviour (TPB) as a theoretical framework, explored the attitudes and perceptions of Black men living in Ga-Rankuwa towards their public primary health care (PHC) services. It aimed to understand and explain their experiences with their health care issues within their public PHC facilities, and determine whether the health care services offered by these facilities address their health care needs. The qualitative research approach that was explorative, descriptive and contextual was adopted in this study. Primary data was collected through semi-structured in-depth interviews and analysed using thematic analysis. Furthermore, the researcher collected semi-structured observational data to supplement the self-reported data that she collected from her participants via in-depth interviews. A standardised recording tool, the observational schedule, was used to document her anticipated observations before she entered her research settings. The observations were made in regards of the clinic environment, the gender dynamics within the clinic environment, the demographic composition of the medical staff and administrative staff, the number of male patients queing up for consultation, the length of the queues, the signboards and posters on the walls inside the facilities displaying the health care messages, and the level of privacy of the consulting rooms. The researcher was also reflexive in her approach, recognising herself as part of the data she was collecting. She ensured that her perceptions and preferences did not influence the quality of the collected data. To ensure that the findings of her study are valid and reliable, the researcher adopted the Lincoln and Guba's framework of trustworthiness. Because humans have been used as participants in this study and because of the complexity and in-depth nature of the study, the researcher ensured that the participants' rights were protected at all times. The researcher explained the nature and purpose of the study to the participants and reminded them about their right to refuse participation before she obtained their informed consent. To ensure that the participants were not subjected to any harm and that the information they provided was well protected, the researcher took steps to protect their privacy and identity. Ethical approval for the study was granted by the relevant authorities at UNISA and permission to conduct the research granted by the Gauteng Department of health The study found that the health-seeking behaviours (HSBs) of Black men in Ga-Rankuwa are influenced by a wide range of sociological factors, namely, socio-cultural, structural and individualistic factors. Understanding these behaviours requires a multifaceted approach, that involves collaboration with various stakeholders, and policy makers in society.
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The study took a qualitative approach with an explorative, contextual, and descriptive design. Data were collected from 15 purposively sampled participants, Black men, aged between 25 and 66 years, either visiting their local public clinics for medical treatment or accompanying others, and those living near the facilities, regardless of whether they themselves have or have not used them for medical treatment. Data were collected through individual semi-structured interviews conducted face-to-face and remotely via WhatsApp calls, guided by a written interview schedule. Since the study took place during the COVID-19 pandemic of 2019, remote platforms were included to improve accessibility and facilitate participant involvement. All interviews were tape recorded and the audio recordings transferred from the voice recorder and saved in a laptop computer for easy access. Thereafter, manual data transcription was carried out and the data materials (transcripts) were converted into an electronic format (Microsoft Word), labelled and saved in appropriate files. Some parts of the primary data were translated from Setswana into English, in preparation for thematic analysis. The researcher took care to familiarise herself with the whole data materials by repeatedly reading the transcripts, in search for the meaning and patterns prior coding. A coding scheme, guided by the TPB, in the form of a template was prepared after data were collected, just before the coding process started. The researcher searched each transcript for underlying concepts which addressed the research objectives of her study and attached corresponding labels to them. The labels were generated and tabled in the coding scheme to identify data segments that are related to a particular preset theme. Once data coding was completed, categories for the themes of the study were formulated by grouping the coded data according to their assigned labels. The data segments that were assigned the same label as per the coding scheme were grouped into different categories and placed under their relevant preset theme. As stated earlier, the development of the themes of this study was informed by the chosen theoretical framework, the TPB, which guided and gave structure to the entire process of data analysis. This implies that in this study, the themes were generated deductively from the TPB before coding commenced. Finally, the researcher produced a report by making an argument in relation to the research objectives of the study supported be carefully selected raw data extracts. Short and direct quotes from the study participants, and some more extensive passages of the quotations were presented in the report to help the readers better understand the data. Furthermore, the researcher supported her arguments, findings, and conclusions by referring to the relevant information from existing literature sources.