Browsing by Author "Lesch, Anthea M."

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    “Spreading the word” – Examining the dynamics of community engagement in HIV vaccine research at an HIV prevention research centre in the Western Cape South Africa
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2017-03) Lesch, Anthea M.; Swartz, Leslie; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Psychology.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Community engagement in HIV vaccine research is a complex phenomenon and is articulated as a crucial part of HIV vaccine research. In spite of this, there is a dearth of literature that focusses on community engagement in HIV vaccine research. While there is much social science literature that focusses on the operational and ethical aspects of HIV vaccine research, there is little research that explores the process of community engagement. In order to contribute to understanding community engagement in context, the purpose of my research was to document and explore the dynamics of the current practice of community engagement at an HIV prevention research centre, Research Centre X in the Western Cape, South Africa. Located within a community mobilization approach, the research used the conceptual framework of the symbolic, relational and material contexts as the lens for exploring experiences of research participation and the dynamics of the current community engagement process at Research Centre X. The study applied a qualitative approach to address the research question and used focus group discussions and key informant interviews to access the perspectives of three key stakeholders who form part of the community engagement process at Research Centre X. Research participants were selected using a purposive sampling technique and included current HIV vaccine trial participants, CAB members who represent the interest of community members in the community engagement process and staff members at Research Centre X who implement community engagement activities. The data were analysed using the thematic analysis approach outlined by Braun and Clarke (2006). Ethical approval for the conduct of the study was provided by Ethics Review Committees at Stellenbosch University and the University of Cape Town. In the symbolic context, the findings highlight fear and avoidance of HIV/AIDS and HIV/AIDS stigma in the research setting. HVT participants reported that myths, beliefs and rumours about the HIV vaccine research being conducted at Research Centre X circulate, inhibiting attempts to promote participation in the research and community engagement activities at Research Centre X. In the relational context, the findings reveal that community outreach workers engage in a narrow set of practices in their community engagement activities, generating a set of relational resources to support their activities. Their activities focus primarily on “spreading the word”, in other words disseminating HIV vaccine research information in the community setting with a view to meeting participant recruitment targets set by researchers and trial sponsors. The relational context of community engagement in HIV vaccine research at Research Centre X, therefore, offers limited roles for community and CAB members in the process. The material context of community engagement in HIV vaccine research is one that highlights contradictory perspectives on the extent to which it promotes empowerment among HVT participants and CAB members. My research findings highlight the complexities that accompany efforts to promote community engagement in HIV vaccine research in resource-poor settings and generates recommendations for transforming the HVT context and reframing community engagement process in the research setting.