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As part of my research fellowship, I worked with a research team on a qualitative study exploring the experiences of people living with HIV. We conducted interviews with approximately 30 participants and worked to transcribe their experiences for further analysis. Through these conversations, we gained insight into the challenges, experiences, and perspectives of people navigating life with HIV.
The fieldwork gave me the opportunity to experience qualitative research firsthand. I learned how to engage with participants respectfully, listen carefully to personal experiences, and approach sensitive health topics with empathy. Transcribing the interviews also taught me the importance of accuracy and attention to detail, as even small details can be important when representing someone’s lived experience. Beyond the research, the fellowship gave me the opportunity to travel to a different country and experience Ghana beyond the research setting. Being able to interact with local communities, experience everyday life, and learn about the culture gave me a broader perspective on how health, family, and community can look different across settings.
This experience strengthened my skills in qualitative research, interviewing, active listening, transcription, data collection and data organization. More importantly, it helped me understand how personal experiences can add depth to public health research and reinforced my interest in research that focuses on the voices and experiences of communities.