Conference workshop: There is a need for qualitative research that is culturally sensitive and focuses on the perspectives of people within their local contexts. Religious, social, and cultural norms as well as differences in wealth may affect the interpretation of ethical principles. For example, Asian countries have religious and cultural traditions that emphasise the family and public interest rather than the Western focus on individual rights.
The aim of this workshop was to explore ethical considerations when conducting qualitative research in low- and middle income countries on topics that may be taboo or stigmatised, such as self harm and mental health. As part of the workshop, we shared experiences and learning from our project, the South Asia Self Harm Initiative (SASHI). This covered a range of challenges such as gaining meaningful consent, sensitive interviewing and issues around power.