Fifteen years of community-engaged HIV research in Sweetwaters, KwaZulu-Natal: a reflection on principles, practices and frameworks

SOURCE: Society, research and power: a history of the Human Sciences Research Council from 1929-2019
OUTPUT TYPE: Chapter in Monograph
PUBLICATION YEAR: 2021
TITLE AUTHOR(S): H.Van Rooyen, L.Fluks, S.Nomsenge, P.Tirivanhu, A.Van Heerden
SOURCE EDITOR(S): C.Soudien, S.Swartz, G.Houston
KEYWORDS: HIV/AIDS, HIV/AIDS RESEARCH, HUMAN SCIENCES RESEARCH COUNCIL, KWAZULU-NATAL PROVINCE, UNIVERSITY-COMMUNITY RELATIONSHIP
DEPARTMENT: Developmental, Capable and Ethical State (DCES), Public Health, Societies and Belonging (HSC), Impact Centre (IC), Impact Centre (PRESS), Impact Centre (CC)
Print: HSRC Library: shelf number 11918
HANDLE: 20.500.11910/15942
URI: http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11910/15942

If you would like to obtain a copy of this Research Output, please contact Hanlie Baudin at researchoutputs@hsrc.ac.za.

Abstract

This chapter reflects on a practice-based community engagement (CE)2 framework that has evolved over the past 15 years in conducting HIV research in Sweetwaters. We start by providing a description of the principles that underpin our framework namely: (1) embeddedness; (2) participatory processes and relationship building; (3) recognising power differences; (4) negotiating power in communities; (5) co-creating knowledge; and (6) respecting culture, voice and local knowledge. We then demonstrate how these principles are implemented through the four phases of our community engagement framework, namely: range, recognise, recruit and retain/sustain (Fluks et al. 2020). We conclude with a theory of change that illustrates how the theory and practice of CE comes together in this community.

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