Best Intentions Are Not Best Practices: Lessons Learned While Conducting Health Research With Trauma-Impacted Female Victims of Nonpartner Sexual Violence in Haiti

Abstract

Culturally sound health research and culturally relevant interventions are foundational to health promotion and disease prevention around the globe, especially for vulnerable populations in low-and middle-income countries who bear a disproportionate burden of sociodemographic and structural adversities, including gender-based violence and nonpartner sexual violence. There is a limited amount of scientific knowledge regarding the promotion of health equity for Haitian populations and about the challenges of cross-cultural practice and research among them. Using the social dominance and social justice theories as a framework, we discuss challenges encountered and biases discovered while conducting research aimed at finding ways to mitigate biological risks and psychological trauma among female victims of nonpartner sexual violence in Haiti. We highlight personal, professional/ethical, and social and structural barriers. We appeal to researchers who work in Haiti or who desire to work there to collaborate and consolidate their research objectives, to consciously engage in decolonizing their attitudes, and to promote antioppressive discourse about Haiti and its people.