Paper Title
“RESEARCHERS ARE LIKE MOSQUITOES; THEY SWARM IN, TAKE WHAT THEY WANT, AND SWARM OUT.” BUILDING EQUITY IN RESEARCHER-COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS: REAL LIFE REFLECTIONS OF THE CHALLENGES OF CONDUCTING COMMUNITY-BASED PARTICIPATORY RESEARCH IN RESOURCE CONSTRAINED COMMUNITIES IN KHAYELITSHA, SOUTH AFRICA AND MOKHOTLONG, LESOTHO.

Abstract
Abstract - In much of the research conducted to date, there remains a chasm between research institutions and the communities being researched. Importantly, power differentials in partnerships between academics and communities perpetuate this chasm and prevents shared ownership of community-based research. Indeed, lack of understanding and failure to include communities in the research processhave resulted in a significant doubt among vulnerable populations about the true value of participating in research with academic partners. In many disadvantaged communities there is pervasive mistrust of academic researchers, based on historical power imbalances between those who need services and their providers. Addressing these historical power imbalances through community participation in intervention design, implementation and evaluation increases the validity and relevance of the intervention, as well as the likelihood that the programme will be accepted and utilised by the community, and this, in turn, affects potential impact. In this presentation, we explore how the practice of community based participatory research (CBPR) unfolds in a research organisation based in a resource-constrained community in Cape Town, South Africaand Mokhotlong, Lesotho. Specifically, we use the principles of creating authentic partnerships, negotiating entry and addressing mistrust, improving communication, building local capacity, valuing local knowledge, and balancing research and community realities to describe some of the challenges and pitfalls that arise when attempting to harness the advantages of CBPR, as they have emerged in our work. Within these principles, we focus on the challenges associated with ensuring community buy-in in the research project, incorporating indigenous knowledge and expertise in all aspects of the research process. In conclusion, we draw attention to the ethical implications of conducting research in resource constrained and highly traumatised communities. Keywords - Community-Based Research, Equity, Disadvantaged, Indigenous, Communities