Oral history as a method to analyse historical and cultural contexts and inform policymaking: the example of the early AIDS epidemic

On this World AIDS Day, Marco Scalvini and Chris Parkes describe how their new oral history project aims to create a new digital archive that will help researchers better understand the early AIDS epidemic and the new model of therapeutic alliance that emerged, in particular. Oral history is an effective research method to explore and analyse the historical and cultural contexts, interactions, and narratives of those either affected by or responding to HIV/AIDS. However, policymakers and caregivers remain reluctant to consider developing new services or treatments based on oral narratives.