Best Intentions Are Not Best Practices: Lessons Learned While Conducting Health Research With Trauma-Impacted Female Victims of Nonpartner Sexual Violence in Haiti

Abstract

Culturally sound health research and culturally relevant interventions are foundational to health promotion and disease prevention around the globe, especially for vulnerable populations in low-and middle-income countries who bear a disproportionate burden of sociodemographic and structural adversities, including gender-based violence and nonpartner sexual violence. There is a limited amount of scientific knowledge regarding the promotion of health equity for Haitian populations and about the challenges of crosscultural practice and research among them. Using the social dominance and social justice theories as a framework, we discuss challenges encountered and biases discovered while conducting research aimed at finding ways to mitigate biological risks and psychological trauma among female victims of nonpartner sexual violence in Haiti. We highlight personal, professional/ethical, and

But Is It Okay? The Need to Still Ask Black/African American Mothers About Violence Exposure During The COVID-19 Worldwide Pandemic

“…Therefore, our lower rates of violence exposure in this sample may be a function of cultural mistrust. While not overstating risk to participants in informed consent materials (Abu-Rus et al, 2019), future research can employ a research process that includes steps to earn trust (Rahill et al, 2018), as well as using a mixed-method design with Black women interviewers in order determine if cultural trust facilitates increased disclosure of violence, as has been found in prior studies (e.g., Lyons et al, 2011). Finally, researchers can 20 ASK BLACK MOTHERS ABOUT VIOLENCE IN COVID-19 qualitatively probe for more information regarding the nature of distress felt by those who experienced violence, as well as longitudinally tracking feelings of distress, as well as post-study behaviors, such as help-seeking.…”

‘‘Now, I know my life is not over!’: Introduction and Adaptation of the RESPECT HIV Intervention, OraQuick, and Trauma-Informed Care for Female Victims of Non-Partner Sexual Violence in Haiti

“…Consequently, there appears to be an unspoken consensus among Cité Soleil residents that Whites are superior and merit socioeconomic dominance and that the darkest or blackest persons are inferior and can be systematically neglected, used, or cast-off. [32] Cité Soleil residents are currently underrepresented in health research, but nearly three decades ago, being a woman in Cité Soleil between the ages of 20 and 29 years and having more than one sexual partner in the previous year were associated with heightened HIV risk. [33] Despite the weak infrastructure and bleak socioeconomic context, Cité Soleil has brilliant, industrious people and numerous gifted leaders.…”

“…[29; 34-35] Among these are colleagues at OREZON Cité Soleil (French acronym for Organization for the Renovation and Education of the Cité Soleil Zone) [35] and local victims and health providers who have long called for HIV prevention and services for survivors of NPSV. [11-12; 32]…”

Perceived Discrimination, Retention, and Diabetes Risk Among American Indians and Alaska Natives in a Diabetes Lifestyle Intervention

“…This may have introduced measurement issues that compromised our ability to detect a direct association between perceived discrimination and retention, and to understand the sources of the perceived discrimination. For example, it is possible that some participants perceived discrimination as part of their participation in the SDPI-DP, where they may have encountered condescension, paternalism, and/or judgmental attitudes from certain SDPI-DP staff (Buchanan, 2008;Came & Griffith, 2017;Jacob et al, 2020;Rahill et al, 2018). Future research may benefit from investigating this distinction further.…”