Reflexive Practice: The relationship between social research and health promotion in HIV prevention

Abstract

This article describes the reflexive practice of both health educator and social researcher in the context of gay community responses to the threat of HIV and AIDS. It describes the processes and structures that were put in place in Australia by AIDS Councils and by social researchers to develop effective health promotion campaigns. It also describes the reflexive relationships between these two partners and between each of them and the gay community. A health promotion campaign that arose out of social researchers identifying an HIV-prevention strategy developed by gay men themselves that was subsequently elaborated by health educators and reflected back to the gay community illustrates the critical reflexivity of the partnership. It concludes that the development of such reflexive partnerships between the gay community, health educators and social researchers provides the basis for effective HIV prevention and education.