Blanchard, A; Chaitanya AIDS Tadegattuva Mahila Sangha; Nair, S; Thalinja, R; Srikantamurthy, H.S.; Ramanaik, S; Javalkar, P; Pillai, P; Isac, S; Collumbien, M; Heise, L; Bhattacharjee, P; Bruce, G
Qualitative Health Research, 2016;
qhr.sagepub.com/content/early/2016/07/07/1049732316654871.long
This article describes how STRIVE researchers and partners used community-based participatory research (CBPR) to better understand violence and lack of condom use among female sex workers (FSWs) and their male intimate partners.
Developed through collaborative processes, the study methodology followed an interpretive approach to qualitative inquiry, with three key components:
- long-term partnerships
- knowledge exchange
- orientation toward action
Researchers aimed to create a shared space for dialogue on appropriate research questions, methods, ethics and quality. In line with the purposes of CBPR, they found that working within an existing organisational context surrounding a programme of research and across the research cycle was inherently valuable both for ongoing mutual development of skills, and as a platform for the application of results within the Samvedana Plus intervention.
This methodological framework may offer encouragement for future qualitative community-based research endeavours to pursue truly collaborative methodologies that can also effectively develop knowledge and engage in action to improve health and reduce disparities globally.
