International AIDS Conference (IAC) Wien 2010 Abstract 1 Title Participatory research and HIV prevention with vulnerable immigrant communities in Germany (PaKoMi-Project) Background: In Germany, some immigrant groups from African, Central and Eastern European countries are particularly vulnerable to HIV/AIDS. Community-based research is needed to better understand their needs and develop appropriate HIV prevention services. The PaKoMi-Project is a national demonstration project using participatory research methods to support HIV prevention among immigrant communities. The project is conducted by the national AIDS service organization (DAH) and researchers at the Social Science Research Center Berlin (WZB) in cooperation with local community partners. The study design is described focussing on the different ways in which community participation is realized. Methods: The study was designed with support from a project advisory board composed of representatives from immigrant communities, service providers and scientists. On the local level, community-based research projects are taking place in four cities. The community partners decide on the aim and procedures of the local project within the frame of the overall study aims. Participatory needs assessments are carried out to develop new HIV prevention services for (im)migrants. Peer researchers from local immigrant communities are collecting and analyzing the data with support from academic researchers. Peer researchers are financially reimbursed and are trained in national capacity building workshops. Results: The participation of members of vulnerable immigrant communities in the study is realized on three levels: 1) in the local, community-based projects, community members participate in all phases of the research process with decision making power; 2) in the national workshops, community members participate as learners and experts, they cofacilitate discussions and participate in the analysis and dissemination of project findings; 3) in the project advisory board, community members have an advisory role regarding the overall project and dissemination strategies. Conclusions: The participation of members of immigrant communities is realized in all phases of the research project with varying roles, responsibilities and degrees of decision making power. Key Words: Participatory Research, immigrant communities, HIV prevention, Peer researchers Authors: Hella von Unger, Silke Klumb, Michael Wright Social and Behavioural Science Theory and Methods D72 Community participation in research Eingereicht HU, 9.2.2010; Ref No: A-240-0266-09263
Abstract 2 Capacity building workshops on HIV prevention research with immigrant communities in Germany Issues: In Germany, some immigrant groups, including immigrants from African, Central and Eastern European countries, are disproportionally affected by HIV/AIDS. To date, these groups are only marginally involved in HIV prevention research. To enable members of immigrant communities and service providers to conduct community-based research for developing and improving HIV prevention strategies, a workshop series was developed. The curriculum is described. Description: The PaKoMi-Project is a national demonstration project on participatory research and HIV prevention with immigrant communities in Germany. To build skills and capacity for community-based research, a workshop series was developed for community-members and service providers. There are five workshops: 1. HIV Prevention and research with(in) immigrant communities: possible strategies and good practice examples 2. Who is the community? Using community mapping to analyze the situation, needs and assets of immigrant communities 3. Participatory intervention planning: partners, aims and resources 4. Intercultural communication and cooperation in community-based HIV prevention 5. Participatory research and evaluation methods The 2-day workshops are designed for 25 participants and apply a range of tools for participatory learning and action (e.g. storytelling, small group work, role plays, simulations, presentations, group discussions, open space, etc.). Lessons Learned: Creative and participatory learning methods work very well. A diverse composition of workshops participants is crucial: involving members from different immigrant communities and service providers with and without ethnic minority background while making sure that ethnic minorities are in the majority and gender is balanced. Next steps: The workshops will be evaluated in a participatory way to see whether its aims have been met. The workshop curriculum including methods, practical examples and lessons learned will be published as a manual. Key Words: Participatory Research, immigrant communities, HIV prevention, Capacity building Authors: Hella von Unger, Silke Klumb, C22 Capacity building for HIV prevention research Eingereicht HU, 9.2.2010; Ref No: A-240-0137-09431
Abstract 3 Community-based HIV prevention services for immigrants in Germany: Challenges and opportunities from the point of view of ASOs Hella von Unger Silke Klumb Background: In Germany, the development of HIV prevention services for immigrants has been recognized as an important and challenging task. AIDS-service organizations (ASO) provide community-based HIV prevention services in many cities throughout Germany. They may play an important role in developing and supporting new community-based HIV prevention services for immigrant communities, in particular if they are able to reach out and cooperate with immigrant communities and other social and health service providers. A survey of German ASO was conducted as part of a three-year participatory research project on HIV prevention with immigrant communities (PaKoMi). Methods: A questionnaire was sent to the 118 members of the national AIDS service organization (DAH) in 2009. The questionnaire included closed and open-ended questions on HIV prevention services, the involvement of immigrants, lessons learned and partnerships with other providers. Data analysis was conducted with SPSS and the qualitative data was analyzed following the procedures of qualitative content analysis using the software Atlas.ti. Results: 90 ASO participated in the survey (response rate: 76%). The great majority (89%) reach immigrants with their services. 35% have HIV prevention services specially tailored to vulnerable immigrant communities. ASO describe good and bad experiences as well as special challenges involved in providing HIV prevention services to vulnerable immigrants. Only 10% of ASO are satisfied with the local cooperation of service providers, NGOs and health authorities in providing prevention services to immigrant communities. 87% state it would be desirable to increase the influence of immigrants in the development and provision of HIV prevention services. Conclusions: More outreach to immigrant communities and involvement of immigrants and immigrant communities in HIV prevention is needed in Germany. On the local level, the cooperation between social and health service providers, including ASO, and immigrant communities must be improved. Keywords: Immigrants, HIV prevention, AIDS service organizations, Cooperation Social and Behavioural Features of HIV Prevention, Treatment, Care and Support Services D83 Community involvement and outreach Eingereicht HU, 9.2.2010; Ref No: A-240-0278-09484
Submission to Global Village (world café) World Café: Migration as a resource in HIV prevention The Global Village brings together community members from all over the world. It is a perfect opportunity for networking, learning from each other and developing ideas for international cooperation in community-based HIV prevention. As a participatory method, the world café fosters mutual exchange and diverse learning experiences. This world café focuses on how migration as a resource for HIV prevention. In Germany and other countries, vulnerable immigrant populations are often socially marginalized and perceived in negative terms, for example as carriers of disease and people trying to take advantage of economic opportunities or welfare systems. Migration is viewed as a problem. However, members of immigrant communities also bring with them specific assets that benefit the host countries and that can be used for health promotion and HIV prevention. It is thus crucial to overcome the problem-centered perspective and focus on the opportunities that migration offers and the assets that immigrants bring with them. Among these assets are the social, personal and professional ties that connect many immigrants to their countries of origin. The idea of using these connections to foster cooperation, mutual learning and exchange and community-mobilization across national boundaries was developed by African immigrants as part of a participatory research project with immigrant communities in Germany. The PaKoMi-Project is a national demonstration project using participatory research methods to support HIV prevention among immigrant communities in Germany. The project is being conducted by the national AIDS service organization (DAH) and researchers at the Social Science Research Center Berlin (WZB) in cooperation with local partners (ASOs and other NGOs working with immigrant communities). Members of African communities who participate in the project have proposed the idea of using the existing connections to their countries of origin for developing transnational cooperation in community-based HIV prevention. The world café aims to bring together community members, NGO representatives and community-based researchers from different parts of the world to develop this idea further. The world café contains a number of tables with refreshments around which participants can gather. Each table has a host who explains the idea and topic of the world café and takes note of the discussions. Participants are free to move tables. At the end, the hosts present a summary of the main points of the discussions that took place in the small groups at the tables. Organizers Silke Klumb Deutsche AIDS-Hilfe, e.v. (DAH) Role: Main organizer of the world café; presenting the PaKoMi-project; facilitating the discussion; generating ideas from a policy point of view; E-Mail: silke.klumb@dah.aidshilfe.de Languages: English, German, French and Spanish Hella von Unger Social Science Research Center Berlin (WZB), Research Group Public Health
Role: PI of the PaKoMi-project; co-facilitating the discussion; generating ideas from the point of view of a researcher involved in community-based research projects. E-Mail: unger@wzb.eu Languages: English, German Omer Ouedraogo Role: Present, discuss and generate ideas from the point of view of a community representative (of the African immigrant community in Hamburg, Germany) and also from the point of view of a community-based HIV service provider (AIDS-Hilfe Hamburg e.v.) E-Mail: omer.ouedraogo@aidshilfe-hamburg.de Languages: French, German, Moore, English Michael Wright Social Science Research Center Berlin, Germany Role: Present, discuss and generate ideas from a research point of view E-Mail: wright@wzb.eu Languages: English, French, German Catherine Floor Role: Present, discuss and generate ideas from the point of view of a member of the African immigrant community in Osnabrück, Germany Contact details: Osnabrück, Germany; E-Mail: Mwikali62@t-online.de Languages: English, Swahili, German Wird von Silke Klumb (DAH) eingereicht.