scholarly journals Mapping experiences and perspectives of equity in international health collaborations: a scoping review

2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marlyn C. Faure ◽  
Nchangwi S. Munung ◽  
Ntobeko A. B. Ntusi ◽  
Bridget Pratt ◽  
Jantina de Vries
Keyword(s):  
Global Health ◽  
Scoping Review ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
International Health ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Qualitative Studies ◽  
Global Health Research ◽  
International Collaborations ◽  
Social Justice Theory ◽  
Key Aspects

Abstract Background Whilst global health research often involves international collaborations, achieving or promoting equity within collaborations remains a key challenge, despite established conceptual approaches and the development of frameworks and guidelines to promote equity. There have also been several empirical studies documenting researchers’ experiences of inequity and views on what is required to advance equity in global health collaborations. While these empirical studies provide critical insights, there has been no attempt to systematically synthetize what constitutes equity and how it can be achieved. To address this gap, we conducted a scoping review of qualitative studies, opinion and editorial pieces about what equity is and how it can be promoted in international collaborations. Methods We conducted a scoping review to explore domains of equity in international health collaborations. This review included qualitative studies and opinion pieces or editorial pieces on equity in international health collaborations. We mapped the data and identified common themes using a thematic analysis approach. Results This initial search retrieved a total of 7611 papers after removing duplicates. A total of 11 papers were included in this review, 10 empirical studies and 1 editorial piece. We conducted our search between October – November 2019. We identified 10 key domains which are important for promoting equity in international collaborations: funding; capacity building; authorship; sample ownership and export; trust; research agreement; acknowledging inequality; recognition and communication. Discussion Our findings suggest that for international collaborations to be considered more equitable, it must at least consider the 10 domains we highlighted. The 10 domains map onto five key aspects of social justice theory, namely avoiding unequal power relations like subordination, group recognition and affirmation, promoting the well-being of all, inclusion in decision-making and ensuring self-development.

scholarly journals Considering equity in global health collaborations: A qualitative study on experiences of equity

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (10) ◽  
pp. e0258286
Author(s):  
Marlyn C. Faure ◽  
Nchangwi S. Munung ◽  
Ntobeko A. B. Ntusi ◽  
Bridget Pratt ◽  
Jantina de Vries
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Global Health ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
International Health ◽  
Indirect Costs ◽  
Structural Features ◽  
Local Communities ◽  
Research Management ◽  
Global Health Research ◽  
Middle Income

International collaborations have become the standard model for global health research and often include researchers and institutions from high income countries (HICs) and low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). While such collaborations are important for generating new knowledge that will help address global health inequities, there is evidence to suggest that current forms of collaboration may reproduce unequal power relations. Therefore, we conducted a qualitative study with scientists, researchers and those involved in research management, working in international health collaborations. Interviews were conducted between October 2019 and March 2020. We conducted 13 interviews with 15 participants. From our findings, we derive three major themes. First, our results reflect characteristics of equitable, collaborative research relationships. Here we find both relational features, specifically trust and belonging, and structural features, including clear contractual agreements, capacity building, inclusive divisions of labour, and the involvement of local communities. Second, we discuss obstacles to develop equitable collaborations. These include exclusionary labour practices, donor-driven research agendas, overall research culture, lack of accountability and finally, the inadequate financing of indirect costs for LMIC institutions. Third, we discuss the responsibilities for promoting science equity of funders, LMIC researchers, LMIC institutions, and LMIC governments. While other empirical studies have suggested similar features of equity, our findings extend these features to include local communities as collaborators in research projects and not only as beneficiaries. We also suggest the importance of funders paying for indirect costs, without which the capacity of LMIC institutions will continually erode. And finally, our study shows the responsibilities of LMIC actors in developing equitable collaborations, which have largely been absent from the literature.

Evolution of Our Understanding of the Concept and Challenges of Global Health Research and Education

2018 ◽  
pp. 21-41
Author(s):  
Bonita F. Stanton
Keyword(s):  
Global Health ◽  
International Health ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Global Perspective ◽  
Global Health Research ◽  
Medical Workforce ◽  
Training And Research ◽  
Critical Components ◽  
Research And Education ◽  
Health And Well Being

As our understanding of the interdependence of the world’s nations has evolved, greater attention and scrutiny have been focused on the goals of improved national and international health and the processes for achieving these outcomes. The rationales for action in support of health within a country, within a region, and across the globe have changed over the last half century, as has our understanding of the consequences of these approaches. This chapter reviews the evolution over the course of the 20th and 21st centuries of our understanding of international and global health and how this evolution has been reflected in and changed the training of the medical workforce. The chapter describes the emergence of multiple forces and agencies aligned toward the goal of a global perspective on health and well-being with resources and training reflective of this overarching vision. The chapter concludes with a discussion of the critical components of continued progress toward realization of global health, especially as they relate to evidence-based training and research and deployment of the global medical workforce.

Gender, women, and the future of tobacco control

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 249-262
Author(s):  
Alexandra Solomon
Keyword(s):  
Global Health ◽  
Tobacco Control ◽  
Tobacco Use ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Policy Research ◽  
Control Policy ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Sex And Gender ◽  
Structural Barriers ◽  
Content Type

Purpose This paper aims to provide a gendered analysis of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) benchmarked upon the global commitments to women’s health and well-being in the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. It reviews evidence of the global consequences of neglecting women’s tobacco use and health, as well as analyzes persistent issues related to sex and gender that compromise the efficacy of tobacco control and science. Actionable recommendations are made to the Conference of the Parties to the FCTC and other key stakeholders. Design/methodology/approach This paper draws upon empirical studies, literature reviews and global health data at the varying intersections of gender, sex, tobacco and global health. Findings The global tobacco control framework and its implementation by state governments have been largely gender blind to date with dire health and economic consequences, including inequitable positive outcomes for men compared to women, and an increase in women’s smoking with associated morbidity and mortality. Gender equitable progress in combatting the tobacco epidemic will not be possible without resolving the gender bias, stigmatization, sexism and lack of intersectionality that plague tobacco control policy, research and interventions for cessation and harm reduction. Originality/value This paper provides an updated global overview of current trends in women’s tobacco use and comprehensively details the persistent structural barriers in tobacco control and science that limit their capacity to effectively analyze and address tobacco use and its impact on women.

The Key Characteristics and Role of Peer Support in the Aftermath of Victimization: A Scoping Review

2021 ◽  
pp. 152483802110438
Author(s):  
Pien van de Ven ◽  
Sonja Leferink ◽  
Antony Pemberton
Keyword(s):  
Peer Support ◽  
Scoping Review ◽  
Traffic Accidents ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Search Terms ◽  
Key Characteristics ◽  
Victimization Experience

Topic: Currently, research into the key elements and role of peer support in the aftermath of victimization is limited. This study reviews the types of evidence available, clarifying key concepts in the literature, examining how research is conducted and identifying key characteristics or factors related to peer support in the aftermath of a victimization experience. Method: A scoping review was performed for peer-reviewed papers using predefined search terms. Studies addressing peer support among victims and survivors of crime, traffic accidents, calamities, suicide, and veterans were included. Selection was based on title and abstract and resulted in 16 papers eligible for review. An inductive thematic analysis was used to synthesize data and findings. Findings: Empirical studies into the key elements and role of peer support in the aftermath of victimization are limited in availability and scattered in terms of approach to research (e.g., methodology, type of respondents, type of peer support) and focus (such as focus on effects on mental health and well-being, on key elements or an evaluation of a support program). Studies mainly have an explorative and interpretative character. Key elements, operationalizations, positive outcomes and negative outcomes of peer support are discussed. Conclusion and discussion: The currently available knowledge on peer support in the aftermath of victimization lacks four points: cross-cultural studies, lived experiences as empirical findings, a variety of victimization events and longitudinal studies. Moreover, it is argued that future research should be improved by adopting a contextual and narrative approach.

scholarly journals A Mathematical and Conceptual Model Regarding Social Inclusion and Social Leverage

2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 9-16
Author(s):  
Giovanni E. Reyes ◽  
Mark Govers ◽  
Dirk Ruwaard
Keyword(s):  
Public Policy ◽  
Latin American ◽  
Social Inclusion ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Health Sector ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Social Investment ◽  
Theoretical Concepts ◽  
Key Aspects

Abstract This article discusses a comprehensive conceptual mathematical model to specify main theoretical concepts and their relationships, regarding social inclusion and social leverage. The particular elements of the model are related to: (i) key aspects of theoretical principles; (ii) major links among principal aspects; and (iii) interrelations regarding social and economic issues within any particular society. One of the principal aims of this research is going beyond the strictly economic elements, to complement a more holistic perspective with social aspects and public policy. This study is part of a broader research project that studies social investment in Latin America, particularly focused in the health sector. More specifically, this study will identify relationships between variables and indicators of social inclusion and social leverage, as basis for carrying out empirical studies on investments that Latin American countries make in health services. The model presented here allows the identification of elements of differentiated public policy, the role of public services aimed to assist especially the most vulnerable social sectors and the support of such services in relation to a country's competitiveness, social well-being and sustainable basis of human development.

Mental Health and Well-being in Competitive Youth Sport: A Scoping Review Protocol

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Courtney C. Walton ◽  
Simon Rice ◽  
Rosemary Purcell ◽  
Ralph de Vries ◽  
Carsten Larsen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Scoping Review ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Youth Sport ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Review Protocol ◽  
Health And Well Being

The objective of the current scoping review is to comprehensively review all empirical studies examining mental health within the context of competitive youth sport.

scholarly journals Well-being Messaging for Mammalian Milks: A Scoping Review

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saleh Moradi ◽  
Joanne Hort
Keyword(s):  
Biological Sciences ◽  
Scoping Review ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Milk Consumption ◽  
Psychological Benefits ◽  
Holistic Understanding ◽  
Food Content ◽  
Nutrition And Dietetics ◽  
Geographical Locations

Having a holistic understanding of research on well-being messaging for milk is vital to allow the optimal communication of the association between milk consumption and various nutritional, physical, and psychological benefits to the consumer. This work is a unique interdisciplinary, scoping review of existing research on well-being messaging for milk. Well-being messages are ways to communicate the broad well-being benefits of specific products to the consumer through information on food content or statements that link a product with favourable components, functions, or well-being outcomes. Leveraging this broad definition, and by proposing a guiding theoretical model that considers well-being messaging as a form of communication, milk well-being messaging literature has been mapped across time, geographical locations, disciplines, and product types. Two hundred forty-six were records included in this review, of which 177 were empirical studies. Studies were disseminated between 1954 and 2019, with 54.9% published after 2011. Food, Agriculture, and Biological Sciences (N = 109), Nutrition and Dietetics (N = 78), and Medicine, Public Health, and Health Professions (N = 69) disciplines have attracted the most publications, with numbers generally increasing in most recent years. The majority of included non-empirical records (69.6%) provide lists of commercially available products carrying well-being messaging and/or regulations on the use of particular well-being messages for milk according to various legislative authorities. Most of the empirical studies were conducted in North America (N = 71), West Europe (N = 52), and Oceania (N = 22), and on plain (i.e., unflavoured) milk (N = 152). Whereas, most studied elements of well-being messaging for milk across time, i.e., message (N = 169), product (N = 141), receiver (N = 101), and context (N = 72) have seen an increasing number of studies in recent years; sender (N = 51) and medium (N = 27) have been even less studied in the past four years. A more detailed analysis of research trends in each element of well-being messaging is reported. The research highlights immediate and strategic knowledge gaps that need further attention from researchers and/or policymakers in order to improve the “messaging” of well-being benefits of milk consumption to the consumer.

scholarly journals Good Financial Grant Practice (GFGP): A Tool for Developing & Demonstrating Institutional Financial & Grant Management Capacity in Global Health

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Harry James Harste ◽  
Genevieve Kiff ◽  
Iruka N. Okeke ◽  
Akindele O. Adebiyi ◽  
K. Ravikumar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Global Health ◽  
Health Research ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Research Unit ◽  
The Philippines ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Global Health Research ◽  
Grant Funding ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Funding Model

The administration and governance of grant funding across global health organizations presents enormous challenges. Meeting these challenges is crucial to ensuring that funds are used in the most effective way to improve health outcomes, in line with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3, “Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.” The Good Financial Grant Practice (GFGP) Standard (ARS 1651) is the world’s first – and currently only – international standard in the financial governance and management of grant funding. Through consensus building and global harmonization between both low and middle-income, and high-income country players, the GFGP Standard has achieved a levelling impact: GFGP applies equally to, and can be implemented by, all types of organization, regardless of location, size, or whether they predominantly give or receive funding. GFGP can be used as a tool for addressing some of the challenges of the current funding model. We describe our experiences and lessons learned from implementing GFGP across four diverse research institutions in India, Nigeria, Colombia, and the Philippines, as part of our UK National Institute for Health Research Global Health Research Unit (GHRU) on Genomic Surveillance of Antimicrobial Resistance.

scholarly journals How to prevent and address safeguarding concerns in global health research programmes: practice, process and positionality in marginalised spaces

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (5) ◽  
pp. e002253
Author(s):  
Bachera Aktar ◽  
Wafa Alam ◽  
Samiha Ali ◽  
Abdul Awal ◽  
Margaret Bayoh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Global Health ◽  
International Development ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Health Research ◽  
Social Systems ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Mitigation Strategies ◽  
Urban Spaces ◽  
Global Health Research

Safeguarding is rapidly rising up the international development agenda, yet literature on safeguarding in related research is limited. This paper shares processes and practice relating to safeguarding within an international research consortium (the ARISE hub, known as ARISE). ARISE aims to enhance accountability and improve the health and well-being of marginalised people living and working in informal urban spaces in low-income and middle-income countries (Bangladesh, India, Kenya and Sierra Leone). Our manuscript is divided into three key sections. We start by discussing the importance of safeguarding in global health research and consider how thinking about vulnerability as a relational concept (shaped by unequal power relations and structural violence) can help locate fluid and context specific safeguarding risks within broader social systems. We then discuss the different steps undertaken in ARISE to develop a shared approach to safeguarding: sharing institutional guidelines and practice; facilitating a participatory process to agree a working definition of safeguarding and joint understandings of vulnerabilities, risks and mitigation strategies and share experiences; developing action plans for safeguarding. This is followed by reflection on our key learnings including how safeguarding, ethics and health and safety concerns overlap; the challenges of referral and support for safeguarding concerns within frequently underserved informal urban spaces; and the importance of reflective practice and critical thinking about power, judgement and positionality and the ownership of the global narrative surrounding safeguarding. We finish by situating our learning within debates on decolonising science and argue for the importance of an iterative, ongoing learning journey that is critical, reflective and inclusive of vulnerable people.

scholarly journals Research for Health Justice: an ethical framework linking global health research to health equity

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. e002921
Author(s):  
Bridget Pratt
Keyword(s):  
Global Health ◽  
Health Equity ◽  
Health Research ◽  
Design Research ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Research Capacity ◽  
Ethical Framework ◽  
Global Health Research ◽  
Ethics Research ◽  
Health Justice

Global health research should generate new knowledge to improve the health and well-being of those considered disadvantaged and marginalised. This goal motivates much of the global health research being undertaken today. Yet simply funding and conducting global health research will not necessarily generate the knowledge needed to help reduce health disparities between and within countries. Global health research grants programmes and projects must be structured in a particular way to generate that type of information. But how exactly should they be designed to do so? Through a programme of ethics research starting in 2009, an ethical framework called Research for Health Justice was developed that provides guidance to global health researchers and funders on how to design research projects and grants programmes to promote global health equity. It provides guidance on, for example, what research populations and questions ought to be selected, what research capacity strengthening ought to be performed and what post-study benefits ought to be provided. This paper describes how the ‘research for health justice’ framework was generated and pulls together a body of work spanning the last decade to provide a comprehensive and up-to-date version of its guidance.

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