Table 1.
Examples of goals, successes and challenges in engaging with MSM communities
| Examples of goals of engagement | Suggestions based on field experience | Examples of issues and challenges |
|---|---|---|
| Research | ||
| • Better designed and implemented studies (questions, ways of working, benefits, CE) | • Include diverse representatives of key populations in a range of interactions in designing studies, how they are implemented and feedback • Community representative groups such as CABs/Gs may be considered as a key channel of engagement • Ensure all research team members and CE partners understand the research and CE goals, limits and messages |
• If/how to engage those who choose not to be identified? Risk failing to engage with those who do not feel represented by self-proclaimed ‘representatives’ • Potential to breach confidentiality and exacerbating risk in interactions with representatives • Should CAB/Gs include non-MSM representatives? If not, should separate CAB/Gs be established to engage with other community members? (Table 2) |
| Public health | ||
| • Improved health and well-being for MSM • Improved health and well-being for general communities | As above and • Provide evidence to support MSM-friendly policy change • Providing MSM-specific access to healthcare with MSM friendly staff • Where possible, provide services to a wider range of community members than currently access services, and do not make access to such services dependent on research participation • Lobby (through networks) for health policy change to support improved health and well-being for MSM as important part of general community • Link with LGBT organisations to refer to services beyond medical research and care |
As above and • Key messages about health research involving MSM not carefully worded and understood by all research team members can be stigmatising for MSM • Activities can contribute to MSM discrimination by targeting MSM communities as specific beneficiaries of interventions that many others would appreciate; such activities also separate and make more visible MSM from other community members • Activities may be interpreted as promotion of homosexuality, exacerbating MSM discrimination |
| Human rights/social justice | ||
| • Advocating for legal changes • Empowerment of MSM individuals and communities |
As above and • Lobby for specific health and social rights of MSM • Hire LGBT staff • Provide training about LGBT issues to all staff and healthcare providers |
As above and • Failure to act may result in tokenistic research agendas and contribute to structural violence • May need to operate covertly to ensure safety of participants and operations |
CAB/G, Community advisory boards/groups; CE, Community engagement; GMT, Gay-Other MSM-Transgender; LGBT, Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender; MSM, Men who have sex with men.