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      ENGAGING COMMUNITIES TO STRENGTHEN RESEARCH ETHICS IN LOW-INCOME SETTINGS: SELECTION AND PERCEPTIONS OF MEMBERS OF A NETWORK OF REPRESENTATIVES IN COASTAL KENYA

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          Abstract

          There is wide agreement that community engagement is important for many research types and settings, often including interaction with ‘representatives’ of communities. There is relatively little published experience of community engagement in international research settings, with available information focusing on Community Advisory Boards or Groups (CAB/CAGs), or variants of these, where CAB/G members often advise researchers on behalf of the communities they represent. In this paper we describe a network of community members (‘KEMRI Community Representatives’, or ‘KCRs’) linked to a large multi-disciplinary research programme on the Kenyan Coast. Unlike many CAB/Gs, the intention with the KCR network has evolved to be for members to represent the geographical areas in which a diverse range of health studies are conducted through being typical of those communities. We draw on routine reports, self-administered questionnaires and interviews to: 1) document how typical KCR members are of the local communities in terms of basic characteristics, and 2) explore KCR's perceptions of their roles, and of the benefits and challenges of undertaking these roles. We conclude that this evolving network is a potentially valuable way of strengthening interactions between a research institution and a local geographic community, through contributing to meeting intrinsic ethical values such as showing respect, and instrumental values such as improving consent processes. However, there are numerous challenges involved. Other ways of interacting with members of local communities, including community leaders, and the most vulnerable groups least likely to be vocal in representative groups, have always been, and remain, essential.

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          Author and article information

          Journal
          Dev World Bioeth
          Dev World Bioeth
          dewb
          Developing World Bioethics
          Blackwell Publishing Ltd
          1471-8731
          1471-8847
          April 2013
          21 February 2013
          : 13
          : 1
          : 10-20
          Author notes
          Address for correspondence: Dorcas M. Kamuya, KEMRI – Wellcome Trust Research Programme, 230, Kilifi, Coast 80108, Kenya, Email: dkamuya@ 123456kemri-wellcome.org .

          Conflict of interest statement: No conflicts declared

          Article
          10.1111/dewb.12014
          3654571
          23433404
          b371d9f3-ceea-492a-872e-6a10a6e8096a
          Copyright © 2013 Blackwell Publishing Ltd

          Re-use of this article is permitted in accordance with the Creative Commons Deed, Attribution 2.5, which does not permit commercial exploitation.

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          research ethics,community network,community engagement,developing countries,representation

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