La recherche communautaire en temps de pandémie : retour sur l’étude multi-pays EPIC

Abstract

En 2020, la crise sanitaire COVID-19 a touché toutes les régions du monde, n’épargnant pas les personnes déjà vulnérables à d’autres épidémies virales telles que le VIH ou le VHC et/ou celles en situation de précarité ou socialement marginalisées, tels que les usagers-ères de drogues ou les travailleurs-ses du sexe. Coalition PLUS, réseau d’associations de lutte contre le VIH et les hépatites virales, qui défend et promeut la démarche communautaire, et ses partenaires ont mis en place une recherche multi-pays ayant pour but de documenter l’impact de la crise sanitaire dans le domaine de la lutte contre le VIH et les hépatites virales (populations clés et acteurs-rices communautaires) ainsi que les réponses communautaires mises en place (enquête EPIC). L’objectif de ce texte est de restituer la mise en place de la démarche communautaire de ce projet pendant la crise sanitaire COVID-19 et, notamment, les difficultés et imprévus auxquels le processus de recherche communautaire a dû faire face et s’adapter. Le but étant de tirer des leçons sur ce qui a fonctionné ou non, afin de capitaliser les pratiques en recherche communautaire durant cette pandémie et, par la suite, faciliter la mise en place de nouveaux projets de recherche dans des contextes similaires.

Impact of the COVID-19 Health Crisis on Key Populations at Higher Risk for, or Living With, HIV or Hepatitis C Virus and People Working With These Populations: Multicountry Community-Based Research Study Protocol (EPIC Program)

“…Description of the EPIC program structure and preliminary global results have been presented at regional or international conferences (n=7). Reflections on the development of the EPIC program as a community-based research study in the context of a pandemic have been published [34]. (Togo, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Ivory Coast) who participated in the EPIC program within the framework of an ongoing cohort study (CohMSM PrEP).…”

“…For the CBRL, this was the first experience in developing a community-based study within the context of a pandemic as well as developing a general study protocol that was made available to the members and partners of Coalition PLUS. As described elsewhere [34], the EPIC program was launched without a clear idea of how many organizations would implement the study or the human resources and financing needed to assure the technical support and follow-up generated from the high demand. Although the flexibility of the EPIC's methodology likely explains, in part, its high uptake within the Coalition PLUS network, it also adds complexity to the overall study coordination and follow-up.…”

“…Another significant factor to be considered is the fact that the development of the study protocol and its implementation in 2020 was possible largely because of the Coalition PLUS' or partner organizations' own funds. The number of participating countries greatly expanded in 2021 thanks to a reallocation of funds to pandemic efforts within the context of the convention-programs financed by the AFD [34]. Although 4 attempts were made to obtain research grants, success was limited because of the innovative methodology and the fact that research funding bodies were reluctant to fund studies that had already been launched at the time of the grant application.…”

Factors associated with ART interruption during the COVID-19 crisis in Burundi (the EPIC community-based research program)

“…immediately after the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic) to assess the impact of the COVID-19 health crisis on people living with or affected by HIV or viral hepatitis, and people working with these populations in community settings. It was implemented by Coalition PLUS 25 , an international union of community-based organizations (CBO) involved in the fight against HIV and viral hepatitis. Founded in 2008, Coalition PLUS unites 16 member organizations and over 100 partner organizations in 52 countries.…”