Blind spots in community-based participatory research with sex workers in Singapore: lessons learned and assumptions uncovered in the context of a diverse, hierarchical and stigmatized key population

Community-based participatory research (CBPR) is quickly becoming an ethical standard for research, ensuring that the research processes align with the values of beneficiaries and contributes to broader social justice goals. This paper reflects on a qualitative study on HIV/STI risks in the sex work industry in Singapore that aimed to adopt a CBPR approach. The project was conducted in partnership with a local sex workers' rights group, Project X, and recruited community members to be part of the research team. The data collection phase of the project lasted for approximately 6months, involving five focus group discussions (n = 24) and 55 semi-structured interviews, the latter conducted primarily by three community interviewers. Based on an analysis of our fieldnotes and interviews with community interviewers, we found five key themes - capacity building, cultural knowledge, limited flexibility in project design, intra-community dynamics and differences in research interests. These themes reflected the project's assumptions, adaptations made, limitations and areas of tension. Despite our best efforts to align with CBPR, there were ultimately some pitfalls. This paper reflects on the lessons learned and assumptions uncovered, and advances current understandings of CBPR, particularly in settings where sex work is diverse, hierarchical and remains highly stigmatized or criminalized.