HIV prevention and community engagement: 15 years on

Abstract

The translation of research findings into evidence-based health promotion remains an important challenge in HIV prevention. Despite an increasing emphasis on establishing ‘community engagement’ and ‘knowledge transfer’ frameworks within health research, there has been little discussion of either the long-term nature of this work or the maintenance of the linkages between organisations and individuals that result from it. This article will provide an overview of the work of the National Centre in HIV Social Research (NCHSR) in this area, and will highlight the importance of reflexivity and adaptability in established knowledge transfer systems in the context of changing social, political and epidemiological environments.