Cluver, L., Doubt, J., Teen Advisory Groups South Africa, Wessels, I., Asnong, C., Malunga, S., Mauchline, K., Vale, B., Medley, S., Toska, E., Orkin, K., Dunkley, Y., Mince, F., Myeketsi, N., Lasa, S., Rupert, C., Boyes, M., Pantelic, M., Sherr, L., Gittings, L., Hodes, R., Kuo, C., Chetty, A.N., & Thabeng, M. (2021). Power to participants: methodological and ethical reflections from a decade of adolescent advisory groups in South Africa. AIDS Care, 33(7), pp. 858-866.
In this paper the authors report on a decade of conducting adolescent advisory groups in South Africa (2008-2018) and reflect on youth advisory processes. Findings suggest that adolescent co-creation of research is feasible, even with very vulnerable adolescents, although ethical considerations need to be carefully addressed. Benefits include increased methodological rigour, enhanced adolescent acceptability of research and the recalibration of research dynamics for the empowerment of their target beneficiaries.