July 2003 • Volume 1 • Issue 1

The 5th AHRF seminar day due to take place in October 2003. A venue and date has yet to be confirmed but the theme of the day is “Community Participation in African HIV Research”.

Conducting research around migrant and ethnic minority communities can be challenging for many reasons. Socio-economic deprivation, immigration difficulties and isolation can make recruiting migrants for research problematic. Additional difficulties come in the shape of researchers designing and carrying out “top down” studies. This often leaves community members feeling excluded and decieved. Top down research tends not to identify the needs of the community, leading to research findings that have little impact in the field.

Community participation, allows researchers to achieve study aims whilst meeting the needs and priorities of local populations. Community members feel included and welcome the chance to participate in research that will affect them. However, not all researchers agree on the value of community participation. Some find the difficulties in dealing with a multidisciplinary range of stakeholders far outweigh the benefits.

At the October 2003 seminar day, the pros and cons of community participation in research will be explored.

For more information, visit the AHRF website www.ahrf.org.uk

If you would like to speak at an AHRF seminar day please email: info@ahrf.org.uk or call 0207 387 9300 ext 8188