Q&A with Collins Adu: Co-Designing HIV Awareness with Sub-Saharan African Communities
There is no shortage of HIV information in Australia or globally. But information alone doesn’t reduce stigma. If messages are not grounded in culture, language and lived experience, they can miss the very people they’re intended to support.
For many migrant communities from sub-Saharan Africa, HIV is layered with silence, stigma and fear. In those settings, standard public health messaging is not always enough. Resources need to be shaped in a way that speaks directly to the community.
Collins Adu, a PhD candidate at the Centre for Social Research in Health at UNSW Sydney, has developed a community-led HIV awareness brochure designed specifically for migrants from sub-Saharan African communities living in Australia.
Drawing directly on community surveys and interviews with people living with HIV, the resource translates research into plain, culturally relevant language that speaks directly to the people it serves.
Q: Can you tell us about the brochure and how the project came about?
A: Today we are launching a community brochure on HIV awareness for migrants from sub-Saharan Africa living in Australia. The brochure represents an important step in translating research knowledge back to the communities who shared their experiences with us. It is based on findings from a community survey of migrants from sub-Saharan Africa, alongside in-depth interviews with people from these communities who are living with HIV in Australia.
Q: Why was this resource needed?
A: In many African communities, HIV is still seen as a taboo. It is not widely discussed or openly accepted, and in some contexts it is viewed as a death sentence. This brochure was designed by community members and led by a community member, myself as first author. The aim is to increase awareness about HIV, reduce stigma, and create openness about HIV and sexual health in general.
Q: You’ve spoken about internalised stigma. Why is it important to tackle that?
A: Stigma cuts across several dimensions. If we want to address structural or higher-level stigma, we first need to deal with internalised stigma. Within the African context, HIV is viewed as taboo. If we inform people that HIV can be discussed respectfully within the community and create openness, then we can move on to tackle the next level of stigma.
Q: Talk us through the content and why you designed it the way you did.
A: The brochure was designed in simple, plain language. It is culturally relevant and speaks directly to community members. There is not too much academic wording, but more plain language that can be easily read, accessible and practical.
Q: What can other sectors or organisations working with stigmatised communities learn from your work?
A: Sectors and health services should prioritise culturally safe and non-judgemental environments where migrants from sub-Saharan Africa feel respected and welcomed.