Abstract
During a five-day workshop, former clinical trial participants and
local musicians wrote the lyrics and recorded a song about an HIV
prevention trial. Born of concerns about misconceptions regarding
experimental drug trials, the aim was to engender engagement with
medical researchers and open dialogue about the risks and benefits of
trial participation. Composing lyrics that highlighted their credibility
as communicators of medical scientific knowledge and their selfless
sacrifice to stem the transmission of HIV, women performed their
social positioning and cultural authority in contrast to men as well as
other women not part of the trial. While involvement in HIV prevention
initiatives often attracts stigma, scorn and criticism, the song’s lyrics
highlighted women’s new-found identities as heroines searching
for a solution to the spread of HIV, challenging these stereotypes.
Methodologically, the paper describes a novel approach that uses
artistic expression for public engagement with biomedical research.