JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Global health research has been rooted in colonialism, with investigators in high-income countries leading research, while requesting investigators in low-and-middle-income countries to serve as implementing partners. The Community Health Worker-Led Intervention for Vaccine Information and Confidence (CIVIC) Project, conducted in Mewat, India, leveraged online platforms to facilitate a more horizontal and inclusive approach to partnerships between researchers and the community. Using online platforms to conduct research was an effective strategy to engage researchers, combat systemic barriers associated with in-person activities, and create a more equitable environment for community members to engage meaningfully with research. Further, by conducting research through online platforms, we found that we were able to strengthen the diversity of participants, provide a space for more marginalized groups to speak up, and minimize logistical barriers to attendance. It is essential to harness online approaches as opportunities to promote equity and contribute to the decolonization of global health spaces which have been historically dominated by external researchers.