P07.01
Background: When NHVMAS studied the methodology section of the 2007 and 2010 IBBSS survey reports, it was clear that though the methodology was sound, there was a gap in the ethics of the conduct of trials as there was no evidence of community engagement in the design of the survey. Members of the communities engaged with these surveys are becoming concerned with their continued participation in surveys that do not translate to interventions for them. While NHVMAS makes effort at increasing awareness of the public, researchers and policy makers to this clause of the HIV research policy, it also wants to focus on building the capacity of the community.
Methods: NHVMAS undertook three days of training for gatekeepers (IDU, FSW and MSM) communities in seven sites where the IBBSS 2014 survey was to take place. The training focused on empowering the community gatekeepers as trainers on what they need to know about research, its importance, informed consent, confidentiality and so on and how they can also transfer same to their peers. Participants learned about the new and existing HIV prevention tools such as microbicides, HIV vaccines, medical male circumcision and female condoms. An interactive approach was engaged. Analysis of the pre and post test was conducted to compare knowledge of participants on topics treated before and after training.
Results: There was a difference in the pre and post test (45.4 vs 56.2; p=1.07626E-05). One impact of the training was the demand made by community members during the planning of the IBBSS 2014 survey for a pre-planning consultation with the community of MSM before conclusion on study design. There have been other reports of community members demanding for informed consent and ethics clearance prior to conduct of research with community members.
Conclusions: When community gatekeepers become more research literate, they can become actively engaged with research design. They are also empowered to make demands for changes in research processes that could address their community needs.
