Community Advisory Boards: A Bibliometrics Analysis and Future Research Directions

Abstract

Community Advisory Boards (CABs) often form the structure for involving community members in a partnership, and can play an important role as collaborators, gatekeepers to the community and a bridge between communities and research institutions. In recognition of this, the Bagamoyo branch of the Ifakara Health Institute established a CAB in 2007 aiming to properly educate and empower elected CAB members to become full partners in all research activities concerning the public within Bagamoyo area. Understanding the challenges faced by the CAB in implementing their activities, the success made, and lessons learned could help guide future public health research and projects. This article presents viewpoints from the Bagamoyo Community Advisory Board members on the challenges, success and lesson learned. It provides the ideas, suggestions and critical reflections on how to improve community engagement in public research and projects.