Lessons on community participation in research on intimate partner violence and HIV in an informal settlement in Kenya

Background: Kenya's framework for integrating HIV and gender-based violence services, proposes community participation in research and programming, stressing the ethical benefits and potential to improve health outcomes. Community-based participatory research (CBPR) is a tested approach for doing research 'with' people through collaborative investigation and action. My presentation describes lessons from CBPR for strengthening intimate partner violence (IPV) and HIV prevention interventions in an informal settlement in Nairobi, Kenya.
Methods: Our study aligns with the ALIV[H]E (Actions Linking Violence Against Women and HIV Everywhere) framework. In August 2020, we formed and trained a research team, involving researchers (n=3), community health providers (n=4) and vulnerable community members (n=7) from Korogocho. We jointly developed tools, conducted focus group discussions and key informant interviews, held group reflection and are now analysing data.
Lessons learned: The ALIV[H]E principles (including human rights, gender equity, safety etc.) provided an essential underpinning to our approach. Confidentiality and respectful relationships among researchers and co-researchers were the backbone of our study. Co-researchers taught us as outsiders how to involve marginalised groups and clarified the social and economic context that shapes IPV and HIV risk. Participation and capacity building were time-intensive, but critical for the quality and sustainability of outputs. We had to balance focus on research process and outputs within the constraints of a PhD research project.
Conclusions: CBPR facilitated mutual learning among researchers and co-researchers, opened platforms to discuss sexual and reproductive health issues and has potential for identifying interventions that meet the needs of marginalised people.