Mind the gap: implementation challenges break the link between HIV/AIDS research and practice.
Sampling strategies such as respondent-driven sampling (RDS) and time-location sampling (TLS) offer unique opportunities to access key populations such as men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender women. Limited work has assessed implementation challenges of these methods. Overcoming implementation challenges can improve research quality and increase uptake of HIV services among key populations. Drawing from studies using RDS in Brazil and TLS in Peru, we summarize challenges encountered in the field and potential strategies to address them. In Brazil, study site selection, cash incentives, and seed selection challenged RDS implementation with MSM. In Peru, expansive geography, safety concerns, and time required for study participation complicated TLS implementation with MSM and transgender women. Formative research, meaningful participation of key populations across stages of research, and transparency in study design are needed to link HIV/AIDS research and practice. Addressing implementation challenges can close gaps in accessing services among those most burdened by the epidemic.
RAND Corporation, Santa Monica, U.S.A.
Sarah
S
MacCarthy
Harvard School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, U.S.A.
Sari
S
Reisner
School of Public Health, Brown University, Providence, U.S.A.
Michael
M
Hoffmann
Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, U.S.A.
Amaya
A
Perez-Brumer
Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Perú.
Alfonso
A
Silva-Santisteban
School of Public Health, Brown University, Providence, U.S.A.
Amy
A
Nunn
Programa de Computação Científica, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil.
Leonardo
L
Bastos
Escola Nacional de Ciências Estatísticas, Fundação Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil.
Mauricio Teixeira Leite de
MT
Vasconcellos
Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal da Ceará, Fortaleza, Brasil.
Ligia
L
Kerr
Instituto de Comunicação e Informação Científica e Tecnológica em Saúde, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil.
Francisco Inácio
FI
Bastos
Instituto de Saúde Coletiva, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, Brasil.
Inês
I
Dourado
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; D000328:Adult; D001938:Brazil; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003625:Data Collection / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D018451:Homosexuality, Male; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010568:Peru; D012494:Sampling Studies; D063106:Transgender Persons