Consultant to Conduct a Research Study to Explore Perceptions of Persons with Disability Towards the Inclusiveness of Health Services at CBM International

Objective

• The objective of this research study will be to assess the perception persons with disabilities and other relevant stakeholders about the inclusiveness of basic services (focusing particularly on health, also covering education and other services) for people with disabilities including children with disabilities and their peers without disabilities.

The specific objectives of the study are to:

• To understand the perceptions and experiences of persons with disability and other community members regarding the inclusiveness of health and other services, including the barriers to accessing services;
• To determine the level of satisfaction of persons with disability regarding inclusiveness of health and other services;
• To understand the perceptions and attitudes of health workers in pilot facilities regarding the inclusion of persons with disability in the pilot health facilities;
• To recommend interventions and strategies that should be put in place to make pilot facilities more inclusive of persons with disability, and to improve access of people with disabilities to health services;
• Understand the broader context for inclusion of persons with disabilities in society in the pilot areas (attitudes towards persons with disabilities, root causes of any discrimination encountered).

Scope of Work (SOW)
The study will focus on two project sites - Gwagwalda (FCT) and Doma (Nasarawa state) - where inclusive eye health services will be piloted in secondary health facilities. The target groups for the study will include the following stakeholders:

• Community members;
• Health facility staff (CHEWs, doctors and Nurses) and non-facility care providers (e.g. TBAs);
• Community gatekeepers and opinion leaders;
• Parents and care givers of children (0-14 years) with disabilities;
• People with disabilities;
• Their peers without disabilities in the same age group.

The sample size will endeavour to be representative of the diversity of the population in the catchment areas; the methodology to achieve a representative sample should be clearly outlined in the research protocol. The study is expected to respond to but not limited to the following research questions:

• What are the perceptions of persons with disabilities regarding the inclusiveness of and access to public health services in the area?
• What are the perceptions of persons with disabilities regarding the inclusiveness of and access to the two pilot secondary health facilities?
• To what extent are persons with disabilities, including children with disability, accessing health services at the two pilot secondary health facilities?
• What level of knowledge, awareness and understanding do stakeholders in the pilot areas have about accessible and inclusive health services?
• What barriers are faced by persons with disability, including children with disability, in accessing health services, in the two pilot secondary health facilities?
• What factors support the access and inclusion of persons with disability, including children with disability, in accessing health services, in particular in the two pilot secondary health facilities?
• What interventions and strategies should be put in place to improve inclusiveness and access of persons with disabilities to health services, in particular in the two pilot secondary health facilities?

Methodology:

• The consultant(s) is/are expected to present, in detail, their approach, methodology and tools, with an action plan and timeframe that addresses the expected outputs, with reference to the overall and specific objectives as well as a budget. A mixed methods study is envisioned, comprising of: a review of hospital records, quantitative survey and qualitative research.
• The research protocol will use representative sampling as appropriate, considering both quantitative (survey) and appropriate qualitative approaches. Two sets of tools will be developed; a questionnaire to administer the quantitative component of the survey and qualitative tools.

Qualitative research is expected to include:

• People with disabilities within the community, including parents (of both genders), children and young people:
• Key opinion leaders in the communities, community gate-keepers, group leaders, religious leaders ;
• Health facility manager/lead.

Analysis:

• The findings of the survey will, where possible, be disaggregated by type of disability, age, sex, rural/urban, and other standard socioeconomic characteristics.

Work Schedule
The consultancy will primarily be responsible to plan, design, manage, conduct and report on the research. The consultant will be responsible for the following tasks:

• Tasks End product/ deliverable Approximate Timeframe PART I – Inception phase
• Undertake a desk review of existing information on programming on people with disabilities/children with disabilities with particular focus on perception.
• Inception report: 7 days
• Develop research protocol, including methodology, tools and analysis plan.
• Present draft research protocol to the research committee and CBM DID team and collect feedback.
• Adjust and finalize the research protocol. PART II – Fieldwork
• Recruit and conduct training of enumerators. Training Completed Training Manual 15 days
• Pre-test research tools (quantitative and qualitative, and review of hospital records) Tested research tools ready for implementation
• Data collection and entry Data Entry
• Data cleaning, processing and analysis of data Data Analysis (SAS, SPSS or STATA format) Information and Data Sets (in Excel) PART IV – Reporting and Dissemination of the Research
• Drafting of the Preliminary Research Report Preliminary Research Report and annexes: 7 days
• Present the draft research report to research committee and the DID group Summary of Draft Research Report &Power Point Presentation including speaker notes: 1 day
• Integrate the feedback and comments received from research committee and finalise research report Final Research Report 2 days: Total: 30 days

Qualifications or Specialized Knowledge/Experience Required
Qualifications:

• Seven years of professional work experience relevant to research and/or disability inclusion. In particular, experience of conducting KAP studies is desirable.
• Advanced Degree in a relevant Social Sciences.
• A consultant with multi-disciplinary background such as disability, statistics, research and analysis, social sciences and development is preferable.

Experience:

• The suitable consultant(s) should have experience in designing, conducting, and managing studies related to disability, children’s issues and/or social development.
• Proven experience in conducting qualitative and quantitative research is required, including household surveys
• Experience of consulting with people with disabilities, and experience in conducting researchs with children is desirable.
• Experience in producing high-quality reports and analysis.
• Work experience in international organizations is an asset.

Languages:

• The consultant(s) must have good inter-personal communication and negotiation skills. Excellent English report writing and editing skills and additional knowledge of Hausa language is an asset.

Competencies:

• Good facilitation and qualitative research skills.
• Understanding of human rights-based approaches to programming and results based management principles is required, in particular related to child rights and disability rights.
• Ability to bring together diverse stakeholders.
• Effective oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to work in an international and multicultural environment.
• Sensitivity towards different cultures, local customs, religious beliefs and practices, personal interaction and gender roles, disability age and ethnicity.
• Strong quantitative analysis skills.
• Good attention to detail.