Lessons learned from community-engaged research in low resource countries

Community-engaged research has early roots in the participatory research tradition that emerged in the 70s and early 80s in countries such as Brazil, Tanzania and India. Yet the past two decades have seen far greater attention to participatory or community- engaged research in North America and other advanced industrialized regions. This presentation will review core principles of community-engaged research, and demonstrate how they are being put into practice in low resource countries (LRCs) in Asia, Africa and Central America. Lessons learned about increasing the cultural and social relevance of the research topic in South Africa, and improving the cultural sensitivity of informed consent in Tibet, will be highlighted. Similarly, lessons learned with community partners in diverse LRCs about the development of both data collection methods and interventions appropriate to local contexts will be shared. Brief case studies also will demonstrate how methods, such as GIS mapping often used to identify locations for HIV testing and counseling, may be greatly enhanced when the lay knowledge of community partners is used in collaborative efforts to improve the socio-political appropriateness of site selection. Experiences in India, Tanzania and Guatemala concerning the translation and use of findings in ways that can lead to sustainable change will be showcased, and their implications discussed. Although challenges faced in conducting community-engaged research in LRCs also will be stressed, take home messages will include how those using community-engaged research in economically advantaged nations can learn from participatory research taking place, often under the radar, in low resource countries.