title: Promoting the inclusion of Afghan women and men in research: reflections from research and community partners involved in implementing a 'proof of concept' project.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  With mounting evidence that poor maternal and child health outcomes are related to the social determinants of health, researchers need to engage with vulnerable and isolated communities to gather the evidence that is essential to determine appropriate solutions. Conventional research methods may not ensure the degree and quality of participation that is necessary for meaningful study findings. Participatory methods provide reciprocal opportunities for often excluded communities to both take part in, and guide the conduct of research.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Having a baby in a new country research project was undertaken to provide evidence about how women and men of refugee background experience health services at the time of having a baby. This two year, multifaceted proof of concept study comprised: 1) an organisational partnership to oversee the project; 2) a community engagement framework including: female and male Afghan community researchers, community and sector stakeholder advisory groups and community consultation and engagement.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Inclusive research strategies that address power imbalances in research, and diversity of and within communities, are necessary to obtain the evidence required to address health inequalities in vulnerable populations. Such an approach involves mindfully adapting research processes to ensure that studies have regard for the advice of community members about the issues that affect them. Researchers have much to gain by committing time and resources to engaging communities in reciprocal ways in research processes.
authors: Healthy Mothers Healthy Families Research Group, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Flemington Road, 3052, Parkville, VIC, Australia. elisha.riggs@mcri.edu.au.|General Practice and Primary Health Care Academic Centre, University of Melbourne, 3052, Parkville, VIC, Australia. elisha.riggs@mcri.edu.au.
authors: Elisha
authors: E
authors: Riggs
authors: Healthy Mothers Healthy Families Research Group, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Flemington Road, 3052, Parkville, VIC, Australia. jane.yelland@mcri.edu.au.|General Practice and Primary Health Care Academic Centre, University of Melbourne, 3052, Parkville, VIC, Australia. jane.yelland@mcri.edu.au.
authors: Jane
authors: J
authors: Yelland
authors: Victorian Foundation for Survivors of Torture, 4 Gardiner Street, 3056, Brunswick, VIC, Australia. szwarcj@foundationhouse.org.au.
authors: Josef
authors: J
authors: Szwarc
authors: Victorian Foundation for Survivors of Torture, 4 Gardiner Street, 3056, Brunswick, VIC, Australia. caseys@foundationhouse.org.au.
authors: Sue
authors: S
authors: Casey
authors: Victorian Foundation for Survivors of Torture, 4 Gardiner Street, 3056, Brunswick, VIC, Australia. chestersd@foundationhouse.org.au.
authors: Donna
authors: D
authors: Chesters
authors: Victorian Foundation for Survivors of Torture, 4 Gardiner Street, 3056, Brunswick, VIC, Australia. duell-pieningp@foundationhouse.org.au.
authors: Philippa
authors: P
authors: Duell-Piening
authors: Healthy Mothers Healthy Families Research Group, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Flemington Road, 3052, Parkville, VIC, Australia. S.Wahidi@semml.com.au.
authors: Sayed
authors: S
authors: Wahidi
authors: Healthy Mothers Healthy Families Research Group, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Flemington Road, 3052, Parkville, VIC, Australia. ffouladi1@gmail.com.
authors: Fatema
authors: F
authors: Fouladi
authors: Healthy Mothers Healthy Families Research Group, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Flemington Road, 3052, Parkville, VIC, Australia. stephanie.brown@mcri.edu.au.|School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, 3052, Parkville, VIC, Australia. stephanie.brown@mcri.edu.au.
authors: Stephanie
authors: S
authors: Brown
mesh_terms: D000346:Afghanistan / Q000208:ethnology; D001315:Australia; D055812:Community-Based Participatory Research / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D036801:Parturition / Q000523:psychology; D012036:Refugees / Q000523:psychology; D012107:Research Design / Q000592:standards; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D035862:Vulnerable Populations / Q000523:psychology*
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