In-depth interviewing

In-depth interviews are ‘a conversation with purpose’ (Kahn and Cannell 1957, p 149 cited in Marshall and Rossman 1999, p 108), which ‘give an authentic insight into people’s experiences’

(Silverman 1993, p 91). They are the major data source and method in my research to explore the ‘subjective values, beliefs and thoughts of the individual respondent’ on gendered disaster impacts on health and healthcare accessibility (Valentine 2005, p 112). My interview schedule included a list of topic headings and key questions under these headings, including personal experiences of disasters, conditions of health and healthcare accessibility during and after disasters, factors affecting healthcare accessibility, and differences in regards of individual, gender and socio-economic status. The language used was Bangla, the native language in Barguna. With permission, all interviews have been digitally recorded and notes have been taken. All the interviews were transcribed later for data analysis.

It took almost one hour to complete each interview, though I spent more time introducing myself and my research to the interviewee. To become familiar with them and conduct the interviews, I visited their houses and offices. Sitting with them in their own environment have helped me to observe them and understand their situation better. Several invitations to their houses allowed me to be in the kitchen with them, have meals and even spend nights at their houses. Many of them shared personal opinions, private incidents and their emotional responses to issues of health, healthcare access and disasters. I was happy that even male respondents spontaneously shared their opinions with me, which I had been concerned would not happen before starting the field work.

Interviewing respondents among the local inhabitants Barguna municipality

I conducted a total 18 in-depth interviews with 8 male and 11 female residents of Barguna municipality (Table 4.1). To choose the respondents, I have tried to select both male and female in same number but categories like household work, business, religious do not include

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both male and female. Among service holders, I have selected officials who are working in Government offices, NGOs, shops and health care centres.

Tentulbaria village

The most challenging part of my field work was to reach Tentulbaria village. There was no other way except waterway to visit this village, and local boats were the only vehicles available. These are locally called trawlers, driven by a man and a motor engine (Photograph 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4 & 4.5). The boats do not have any safety measures such as life jackets, and no seats to sit on. These boats become very vulnerable in storms. Unfortunately I was in Barguna during the rainy season and there were local thunderstorms with strong winds every day. As I do not know how to swim, I could not risk taking the full trawler journey. So, I had to reach Tentulbaria village by another route which was more costly and troublesome. I travelled by a three wheeled vehicle called Mahendra from Barguna Paurashava to Phuljuri Ghat (river port) and then took a 20 minute boat journey instead of the two hour boat journey. But arranging this alternative journey led me to face social pressure as my relatives from my in-laws’ family advised me to use the same waterways used by the villagers.

After this journey, I understood how difficult it is for the Tentulbaria villagers to travel from their village. No one can get out of the village except by taking the boat for seven to eight months of the year. There is no surfaced road in this area. During the winter season, people can walk or men can use motor cycles on the local muddy road, but women do not have access to any vehicle. They cannot walk such a long distance and women of this village do not ride motor cycles. Therefore, when they become sick or pregnant, they can only use boats.

However, there is no easy way to get onto the boats, as there are no stairs or any arrangement for the old, sick, children or pregnant women. The following photographs show how difficult the journey in and out of Tentulbaria village is.

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Photographs on ‘Journey to the village Tentulbaria’

Source: Field work, 2013 Photograph 4.1

A vulnerable wooden bridge to reach the port to get on the boat.

The bridge is half broken and has an irregular platform on it which needs extra attention to cross it.

Photograph 4.2 Photograph4.3

The boat The wide river Bishkhali

It is impossible to get on the boat without the help of a strong person. This aged person in the photograph has been helped by the young man and the woman is waiting to get the help. But normally women do not want to take help from an unknown man, and they especially try to avoid touching. It shows how difficult it is for a woman or sick person to go out of Tentulbaria village without a man accompanying them.

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As Chapter 3 described, Tentulbaria is a remote village of Barguna Sadar Upazila. There is no office, any NGO centre, or any hotel to stay at night. I talked about accommodation with key informant and he arranged my accommodation at his house. It was a great help for me. During my stay I have found that this village does not have all the telephone networks of Bangladesh.

Electricity in this village is also very irregular. I was losing my mobile charges and facing communication problems with urban areas and my family in Dhaka. I have also found that due to the irregular electricity supply, not all inhabitants of this village can keep updated weather warning news during cyclones, and they have to depend on their own weather sense or that of others.

I conducted an interview with my first key informant who is a senior school teacher in Tentulbaria village. He was a very helpful informant. He and his family were directly affected by Cyclone Sidr and unfortunately lost about 33 relatives. He was also injured during that time.

Other key informants were a businessman, a housewife, and a student in the village. Using the snowballing method, I chose twelve respondents from different categories. There was no

Source: Field work, 2013 Photograph 4.4

The boatman

The man on the left is the boatman and he is the only one who is taking care of everything.

But it becomes difficult for him to manage during local storms.

Photograph 4.5

I am on the boat to the village Tentulbaria

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female businessperson, farmer or labourer found in this village, so I could not include any female respondents in those categories.

In-depth interviews with officials

I have selected doctors (male and female), Mayor of Barguna municipality, Chairman of Union Parishad and NGO officials (Male and female) as my respondents.

Interviews with doctors

It was challenging to get appointments with doctors. First, they did not want to be interviewed, as they thought I might be from the media or any anti corruption offices. I introduced myself and made them understand that it was only for research and I would not have any questions on their duties and work. Following this, I got the chance to talk with the civil surgeon of the Barguna District who is in charge of all types of health care centres in Barguna, and a female doctor who is working in a ‘Mother and child care centre’ for a long time. Both of them were in Barguna during cyclone Sidr and Mahasen. Their experiences and opinions are very important and useful for my research.

Interviews with NGOs

After Cyclone Sidr, a higher number of NGOs started working in Barguna. Some of them are working on disasters focusing on awareness programmes. I have selected these NGOs according to their ongoing programmes in Barguna: both national and local NGOs were selected who are working on disasters, health and women. My local key respondents helped in this regard. I contacted with nine NGOs and seven of them participated in interviews and two of them preferred meetings. They were very friendly and helpful, and provided me with statistical data and information. They shared their field experiences during disasters and mentioned several cases regarding healthcare accessibility, social constraints and their limitations during and after disasters. These interviews have helped me to know more precisely the limitations of the prevailing disaster management plans.

Interviews with the Mayor and the Chairman

I have talked with the Mayor of Barguna municipality and the chairman of the Badarkhali Union to find out about their prevailing plans for disasters, and the limitations and constraints they face in executing these plans. I also asked them to share their opinions on the prevailing health care facilities and recommendations to improve the conditions that the research

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identified. They also provided me two recent maps of these two study areas which are not easily available in Dhaka.