Dr Morenike Ukpong, Coordinator, New HIV Vaccine and Microbicide Advocacy Society, has stressed the need for community involvement in research in Nigeria.

Ukpong told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that when community members were trained, and given informed consent, they could identify and support studies that addressed their needs.

She said informed consent meant that anyone, who participated in a research must be given all the information about the research to enable them to take decisions on their involvement.

She said community involvement was very important during the design of research , while community advisory structures would ensure they functioned well.

“Community involvement strategies could also include radio and local media, dramas and community events, among others, ” she said.

Ukpong said civil society groups could be constructively engaged in research by carrying community members along.

“Researchers could do more to share information collected with the communities they work with,’’ she said.

Ukpong said researchers must work ethically to have quality outcomes to inform policy making in Nigeria.

She said civil society organisations and NGOs working with populations on HIV research should put measures in place to achieve better research results.