Marseille 2007
Marseille 2007
Abstract book
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Abstract #174  -  The difficult normalization of social science and public health related research in the field of HIV/Aids
Session:
  6.12: Posters A (Poster) on Monday   in  Chaired by
Authors:
  Presenting Author:   Ms Frey Kathrin - University of Zurich, Switzerland
 
  Additional Authors:  Prof Dr Daniel Kbler,  
Aim:
Like most countries in Western Europe, public health and socio-behavioural research on HIV/AIDS has been specifically encouraged in Switzerland since the mid 1980s. In 2004, the specific funding mechanisms of this type of research were abolished. This raises the question whether the scientific knowledge relevant to the development of prevention policies will still exist in a mid-term perspective. The goal of this study was to assess the consequences of this recent development, and to formulate recommendations for a mid-term strategy for ensuring the sustainable production, transmission and use of results of socio-behavioural and public health research on HIV/AIDS.
 
Method / Issue:
The analysis relies on a review of secondary literature, quantitative data drawn from an inventory of all socio-behavioural and public health research projects on HIV/AIDS in Switzerland between 1987 and mid 2006, as well as qualitative data drawn from in-depth interviews with 24 experts from the fields of scientific research, public administration and HIV/AIDS prevention.
 
Results / Comments:
Concerning the production of policy relevant scientific knowledge, the past funding mechanisms for socio-behavioural and public health research on HIV/AIDS in Switzerland were able to ensure a good coverage of the major important research themes. However, the abolition of specific funding structures in March 2004 has led to a drastic reduction of submissions for socio-behavioural or public health research on HIV/AIDS to the main funding authority (the National Science Foundation NSF). Even if this development may be due to simple periodic fluctuation, there is a high risk that, without specific funding for this kind of research, this negative trend will continue and that the multidisciplinary, integrative and health-oriented concept of research in this field will wither away. With respect to transmission and use of scientific knowledge in HIV/AIDS prevention, several important channels of interaction and communication between researchers and practitioners have ceased to exist. This has deteriorated the communication between researchers. However, thanks to adaptation of existing communication channels, the transmission and use of scientific knowledge for prevention policy could be maintained even though on a lower level.
 
Discussion:
In order to ensure past achievements in this field, measures must be taken aiming to ensure the continuity of the currently still existing networks and arenas, where researchers from various disciplines can exchange and communicate among themselves and with prevention practitioners. Indeed, such networks and arenas are at centre-stage for providing impetus to the formulation of innovative and policy relevant research projects.
 
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