Please include experiences on how to obtain ethical approval and informed consent for research among sexual minorities (LGBTI) in a country where the practices are illegal. Thank you
I recommend you look at the website of the Global Forum for MSM and HIV - www.msmgf.org - which has a number of articles in its database on this subject. You can also email them.
The key is to outreach the population. In Guatemala, we're building an experience to increase coverage in MSM. Is important to mention that in Guatemala isn't an unfreandly legal system for LGBTI, however stigma is a major concern in our context.
The close work with a community based organization, and promotion through social network as Facebook, Twitter; and "gay apps" such as Grindr and Manhunt; are an important strategy to contact MSM.
Also, Mpowerment model
Here are some publications that may help you:
Goldenberg T, McDougal JS, Sullivan SP, Stekler DJ, Stephenson R. Preferences for a Mobile HIV Prevention App for Men Who Have Sex With Men. JMIR mHealth uHealth [Internet].
Young SD, Szekeres G, Coates T. The Relationship between Online Social Networking and Sexual Risk Behaviors among Men Who Have Sex with Men (MSM). PLoS One. 2013;8(5):15–8.
Usher D, Frye V, Shinnick J, Greene E, Baez E, Benitez J, et al. Recruitment by a Geospatial Networking Application for Research and Practice: The New York City Experience. JAIDS J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr [Internet]. 2014;67(5).
Suthar AB, Ford N, Bachanas PJ, Wong VJ, Rajan JS, Saltzman AK, et al. Towards Universal Voluntary HIV Testing and Counselling: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Community-Based Approaches. PLoS Med. 2013;10(8).
Kegeles SM, Hays RB, Coates TJ. The Mpowerment project: A community-level HIV prevention intervention for young gay men. Am J Public Health. 1996;86(8 I):1129–36.
Kahn JG, Kegeles SM, Hays R, Beltzer N. Cost-Effectiveness of the Mpowerment Project, a Community-Level Intervention for Young Gay Men. JAIDS J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr [Internet]. 2001;27(5)
in Brazil sexual minorities have been protected by defobsaúde programs and DST / AIDS, working with the concept of vulnerabilidae, and several anti-homophobia laws that have been created locally. Transsexuals even now can perform sex change by the public health system, despite this service only being offered in one state, and court decisions that have favored the exchange of company names on records and civil records.
In general, It's important to know someone who has access to these populations. Knowing one person generally opens the door for more as long as their privacy is respected.
Thank you Regina for sharing the experience in Brazil, it is interesting to hear the developments. Yes Christophe thank you too for that vital piece of advice.