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Essouma M, Noubiap JJ. Lupus and other autoimmune diseases: Epidemiology in the population of African ancestry and diagnostic and management challenges in Africa. THE JOURNAL OF ALLERGY AND CLINICAL IMMUNOLOGY. GLOBAL 2024; 3:100288. [PMID: 39282618 PMCID: PMC11399606 DOI: 10.1016/j.jacig.2024.100288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2023] [Revised: 02/15/2024] [Accepted: 02/23/2024] [Indexed: 09/19/2024]
Abstract
Autoimmune diseases are prevalent among people of African ancestry living outside Africa. However, the burden of autoimmune diseases in Africa is not well understood. This article provides a global overview of the current burden of autoimmune diseases in individuals of African descent. It also discusses the major factors contributing to autoimmune diseases in this population group, as well as the challenges involved in diagnosing and managing autoimmune diseases in Africa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mickael Essouma
- Network of Immunity in Infection, Malignancy and Autoimmunity (NIIMA), Universal Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN), Cameroon
| | - Jean Jacques Noubiap
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of California-San Francisco, San Francisco, Calif
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Twesten JE, Stecher C, Arinaitwe J, Parascandola M. Tobacco control research on the African continent: a 22-year literature review and network analysis. Tob Control 2024; 33:654-662. [PMID: 37068947 DOI: 10.1136/tc-2022-057760] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2022] [Accepted: 04/04/2023] [Indexed: 04/19/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Describe the landscape of tobacco-related topics, funders and institutional networks in Africa. DATA SOURCES We searched PubMed, Embase and African Index Medicus for published articles from January 1996 to August 2018 in any language. STUDY SELECTION Two researchers independently reviewed titles and abstracts for a focus on nicotine or tobacco product(s) and describe data or recommendations specific to Africa. Ultimately, 818 articles were identified. DATA EXTRACTION Three independent coders conducted qualitative analyses of articles and extracted funders, study populations, countries of research focus, research topics, tobacco products, study design and data source. A bibliometric analysis estimated coauthorship networks between the countries of authors' primary institutional affiliation. DATA SYNTHESIS All 54 African countries were represented in two or more articles. The coauthorship network included 2714 unique authors representing 90 countries. Most articles employed a cross-sectional study design with primary data collection, focused on cigarettes and studied use behaviour. Few articles examined tobacco farming or interventions for cessation or prevention. The most frequently cited funder was the US National Institutes of Health (27.2%). A range of coauthorship patterns existed between African institutions with some coauthoring with one institution while others coauthored with 761 institutions in other African countries. CONCLUSIONS The literature review identified the need for implementation research for tobacco control interventions and policies, economic and development impacts of tobacco use research, and tobacco industry and tobacco production and farming research. Numbers of research collaborations between institutions in Africa vary, suggesting the need for regional institutional capacity building.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Chad Stecher
- College of Health Solutions, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, USA
| | - Jim Arinaitwe
- Center for Tobacco Control in Africa, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Mark Parascandola
- Center for Global Health, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
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Nahal B, Owen EM, Jama M, Obasi A, Clarke E. A review of authorship in herpes simplex virus type-2 (HSV-2) research conducted in low-income and middle-income countries between 2000 and 2020. BMJ Glob Health 2024; 9:e012719. [PMID: 38964883 PMCID: PMC11227752 DOI: 10.1136/bmjgh-2023-012719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 07/06/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Equitable inclusion of low-income and middle-income country (LMIC) researchers and women in research authorship is a priority. A review of progress in addressing WHO-identified priorities provided an opportunity to examine the geographical and gender distribution of authorship in herpes simplex virus type-2 (HSV-2) research. METHODS Publications addressing five areas prioritised in a WHO workshop and published between 2000 and 2020 were identified. Data on author country, gender, authorship position and research funding source were collected by manuscript review and internet searches and analysed using IBM SPSS V.26. RESULTS Of, 297 eligible papers identified, (n=294) had multiple authors. Of these, 241 (82%) included at least one LMIC author and 143 (49%) and 122 (41%) had LMIC first and last authors, respectively. LMICs funded studies were more than twice as likely to include an LMIC first or last author as high-income country-funded studies (relative risk 2.36, 95% CI 1.93 to 2.89). Respectively, 129 (46%) and 106 (36%) studies had female first and last authors. LMIC first and last authorship varied widely by HSV-2 research area and increased over time to 65% and 59% by 2015-2020. CONCLUSION Despite location of the research itself in LMIC settings, over the 20-year period, LMIC researchers held only a minority of first and last authorship positions. While LMIC representation in these positions improved over time, important inequities remain in key research areas and for women. Addressing current and historical power disparities in global health research, research infrastructure and how it is funded may be key addressing to addressing these issues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Belinder Nahal
- University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
- London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Ela Mair Owen
- University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
- Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK
| | - Muna Jama
- Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK
- International Rescue Committee, Mogadishu, Somalia
| | - Angela Obasi
- Department of International Public Health, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK
- AXESS Sexual Health, Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, UK
| | - Emily Clarke
- University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
- AXESS Sexual Health, Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, UK
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Oliveira-Ciabati L, Thorson A, Brizuela V. Scientific production in sexual and reproductive health and rights research according to gender and affiliation: An analysis of publications from 1972 to 2021. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0304659. [PMID: 38923959 PMCID: PMC11207172 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0304659] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2024] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Peer-reviewed literature is commonly used to assess academic progress and research excellency. However, representation in authorship of global health publications is biased and unfair. In order to shed light on current gaps towards attaining gender equality in scientific production and shift power asymmetries in global health research, we conducted an assessment of authorship trends from 1972 to 2021 with a focus on gender and geographic representation in scientific articles authored or co-authored by researchers affiliated with UNDP/UNFPA/UNICEF/WHO/World Bank Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction (HRP). METHODS We searched PubMed, Web of Science, and HRP public reports for publications where at least one author was affiliated with HRP. Our main outcome measures were author gender and location of author affiliation, classified by region and country income group. We used descriptive statistics to characterize the publications under analysis as well as the total number of authors from the included papers. We applied a logistic regression model to explore associations between author gender and other characteristics of published articles and a time series analysis to assess how time can influence the inclusion of women as authors in a publication. Python and R were used for all analyses. RESULTS A total of 1,484 publications with 14,424 listed authors representing 5,950 unique authors were included in our analysis: 42.5% were female, 35.1% male, and 22.4% unknown (p<0.0001). First authorship was more likely female (56.9%) and from a high-income country (74.6%, p<0.0001) while last authorship was mostly male (53.7%) also from a high-income country (82.5%, p<0.0001). Females more frequently published papers using qualitative data (61.4%) and reviews/estimates (59.4%) while men published more case control (70.7%) and randomised controlled studies (53.0%), p<0.0001. The adjusted odds of there being a female author increased 4% for every additional year that passed. CONCLUSION While there are more females authoring articles as compared to the past, they are still lagging behind with regards to seniority and prestige. Likewise, female representation is closely tied to what institution they are affiliated with and where that institution is located. Global health research institutions need to actively promote change by ensuring women are included in research and research outputs, giving them opportunities to lead.
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Affiliation(s)
- Livia Oliveira-Ciabati
- Health Innovation Techcenter (HIT), Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, São Paulo, Brazil
- Barão de Mauá University Center, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Anna Thorson
- UNDP/UNFPA/UNICEF/WHO/World Bank Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction (HRP), Department of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Vanessa Brizuela
- UNDP/UNFPA/UNICEF/WHO/World Bank Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction (HRP), Department of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
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Abimbola S, van de Kamp J, Lariat J, Rathod L, Klipstein-Grobusch K, van der Graaf R, Bhakuni H. Unfair knowledge practices in global health: a realist synthesis. Health Policy Plan 2024; 39:636-650. [PMID: 38642401 PMCID: PMC11145905 DOI: 10.1093/heapol/czae030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2023] [Revised: 04/15/2024] [Accepted: 04/17/2024] [Indexed: 04/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Unfair knowledge practices easily beset our efforts to achieve health equity within and between countries. Enacted by people from a distance and from a position of power ('the centre') on behalf of and alongside people with less power ('the periphery'), these unfair practices have generated a complex literature of complaints across various axes of inequity. We identified a sample of this literature from 12 journals and systematized it using the realist approach to explanation. We framed the outcome to be explained as 'manifestations of unfair knowledge practices'; their generative mechanisms as 'the reasoning of individuals or rationale of institutions'; and context that enable them as 'conditions that give knowledge practices their structure'. We identified four categories of unfair knowledge practices, each triggered by three mechanisms: (1) credibility deficit related to pose (mechanisms: 'the periphery's cultural knowledge, technical knowledge and "articulation" of knowledge do not matter'), (2) credibility deficit related to gaze (mechanisms: 'the centre's learning needs, knowledge platforms and scholarly standards must drive collective knowledge-making'), (3) interpretive marginalization related to pose (mechanisms: 'the periphery's sensemaking of partnerships, problems and social reality do not matter') and (4) interpretive marginalization related to gaze (mechanisms: 'the centre's learning needs, social sensitivities and status preservation must drive collective sensemaking'). Together, six mutually overlapping, reinforcing and dependent categories of context influence all 12 mechanisms: 'mislabelling' (the periphery as inferior), 'miseducation' (on structural origins of disadvantage), 'under-representation' (of the periphery on knowledge platforms), 'compounded spoils' (enjoyed by the centre), 'under-governance' (in making, changing, monitoring, enforcing and applying rules for fair engagement) and 'colonial mentality' (of/at the periphery). These context-mechanism-outcome linkages can inform efforts to redress unfair knowledge practices, investigations of unfair knowledge practices across disciplines and axes of inequity and ethics guidelines for health system research and practice when working at a social or physical distance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seye Abimbola
- School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
- Department of Global Public Health and Bioethics, Julius Centre for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht 3508 GA, The Netherlands
| | - Judith van de Kamp
- Department of Global Public Health and Bioethics, Julius Centre for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht 3508 GA, The Netherlands
| | - Joni Lariat
- School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Lekha Rathod
- Department of Global Public Health and Bioethics, Julius Centre for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht 3508 GA, The Netherlands
- Luxembourg Operational Research and Epidemiology Support Unit, Médecins Sans Frontières, Luxembourg City L-1617, Luxembourg
| | - Kerstin Klipstein-Grobusch
- Department of Global Public Health and Bioethics, Julius Centre for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht 3508 GA, The Netherlands
- Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2193, South Africa
| | - Rieke van der Graaf
- Department of Global Public Health and Bioethics, Julius Centre for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht 3508 GA, The Netherlands
| | - Himani Bhakuni
- Department of Global Public Health and Bioethics, Julius Centre for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht 3508 GA, The Netherlands
- York Law School, University of York, York YO10 5GD, United Kingdom
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Ofori SK, Dankwa EA, Estrada EH, Hua X, Kimani TN, Wade CG, Buckee CO, Murray MB, Hedt-Gauthier BL. COVID-19 vaccination strategies in Africa: A scoping review of the use of mathematical models to inform policy. Trop Med Int Health 2024; 29:466-476. [PMID: 38740040 DOI: 10.1111/tmi.13994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Mathematical models are vital tools to understand transmission dynamics and assess the impact of interventions to mitigate COVID-19. However, historically, their use in Africa has been limited. In this scoping review, we assess how mathematical models were used to study COVID-19 vaccination to potentially inform pandemic planning and response in Africa. METHODS We searched six electronic databases: MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, Global Health, MathSciNet and Africa-Wide NiPAD, using keywords to identify articles focused on the use of mathematical modelling studies of COVID-19 vaccination in Africa that were published as of October 2022. We extracted the details on the country, author affiliation, characteristics of models, policy intent and heterogeneity factors. We assessed quality using 21-point scale criteria on model characteristics and content of the studies. RESULTS The literature search yielded 462 articles, of which 32 were included based on the eligibility criteria. Nineteen (59%) studies had a first author affiliated with an African country. Of the 32 included studies, 30 (94%) were compartmental models. By country, most studies were about or included South Africa (n = 12, 37%), followed by Morocco (n = 6, 19%) and Ethiopia (n = 5, 16%). Most studies (n = 19, 59%) assessed the impact of increasing vaccination coverage on COVID-19 burden. Half (n = 16, 50%) had policy intent: prioritising or selecting interventions, pandemic planning and response, vaccine distribution and optimisation strategies and understanding transmission dynamics of COVID-19. Fourteen studies (44%) were of medium quality and eight (25%) were of high quality. CONCLUSIONS While decision-makers could draw vital insights from the evidence generated from mathematical modelling to inform policy, we found that there was limited use of such models exploring vaccination impacts for COVID-19 in Africa. The disparity can be addressed by scaling up mathematical modelling training, increasing collaborative opportunities between modellers and policymakers, and increasing access to funding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sylvia K Ofori
- Center for Communicable Disease Dynamics, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Emmanuelle A Dankwa
- Center for Communicable Disease Dynamics, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Eve Hiyori Estrada
- Department of Global Health and Social Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Xinyi Hua
- Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Environmental Health Sciences, Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, Georgia, USA
| | - Teresia N Kimani
- KAVI-Institute of Clinical Research, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
- Center for Epidemiological Modelling and Analysis, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
- Paul G Allen School for Global Animal Health, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA
- Department of Health Services, Kiambu County, Ministry of Health Kenya, Kiambu County, Kenya
| | - Carrie G Wade
- Countway Library, Harvard School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Caroline O Buckee
- Center for Communicable Disease Dynamics, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Megan B Murray
- Department of Global Health and Social Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Bethany L Hedt-Gauthier
- Department of Global Health and Social Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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Muchatuta M, Patel S, Gonzalez Marquez C, Thilakasiri K, Manian SV, Chan J, Mssika N, Clark T, Burkholder T, Turgeon N, Kampalath VN, Poola N, Offorjebe OA, Dozois A, Hyuha G, Vaughan‐Ogunlusi O, McCammon C, Wells K, Rybarczk M, Castillo MP, Adeyeye AA, Rees CA, Dutta S, Garbern SC. Building a framework to decolonize global emergency medicine. AEM EDUCATION AND TRAINING 2024; 8:e10982. [PMID: 38765709 PMCID: PMC11099782 DOI: 10.1002/aet2.10982] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2023] [Revised: 03/01/2024] [Accepted: 03/01/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024]
Abstract
Background Global emergency medicine (GEM) is situated at the intersection of global health and emergency medicine (EM), which is built upon a history of colonial systems and institutions that continue to reinforce inequities between high-income countries (HICs) and low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) today. These power imbalances yield disparities in GEM practice, research, and education. Approach The Global Emergency Medicine Academy (GEMA) of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine formed the Decolonizing GEM Working Group in 2020, which now includes over 100 worldwide members. The mission is to address colonial legacies in GEM and catalyze sustainable changes and recommendations toward decolonization at individual and institutional levels. To develop recommendations to decolonize GEM, the group conducted a nonsystematic review of existing literature on decolonizing global health, followed by in-depth discussions between academics from LMICs and HICs to explore implications and challenges specific to GEM. We then synthesized actionable solutions to provide recommendations on decolonizing GEM. Results Despite the rapidly expanding body of literature on decolonizing global health, there is little guidance specific to the relatively new field of GEM. By applying decolonizing principles to GEM, we suggest key priorities for improving equity in academic GEM: (1) reframing partnerships to place LMIC academics in positions of expertise and power, (2) redirecting research funding toward LMIC-driven projects and investigators, (3) creating more equitable practices in establishing authorship, and (4) upholding principles of decolonization in the education of EM trainees from LMICs and HICs. Conclusions Understanding the colonial roots of GEM will allow us to look more critically at current health disparities and identify inequitable institutionalized practices within our profession that continue to uphold these misguided concepts. A decolonized future of GEM depends on our recognition and rectification of colonial-era practices that shape structural determinants of health care delivery and scientific advancement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monalisa Muchatuta
- Department of Emergency MedicineSUNY Downstate Medical CenterBrooklynNew YorkUSA
| | - Shama Patel
- Department of Emergency MedicineUniversity of FloridaJacksonvilleFloridaUSA
| | | | - Kaushila Thilakasiri
- Ministry of Health Sri LankaOxford University Hospitals NHS TrustColomboSri Lanka
| | | | - Jennifer Chan
- Department of Emergency MedicineNorthwestern UniversityChicagoIllinoisUSA
| | - Ngassa Mssika
- Department of Emergency MedicineEastern Virginia Medical SchoolNorfolkVirginiaUSA
| | - Taryn Clark
- Department of Emergency MedicineSUNY Downstate Medical CenterBrooklynNew YorkUSA
| | - Taylor Burkholder
- Department of Emergency MedicineUniversity of Southern CaliforniaLos AngelesCaliforniaUSA
| | - Nikkole Turgeon
- Department of Emergency MedicineBoston Medical CenterBostonMassachusettsUSA
| | - Vinay N. Kampalath
- Department of Emergency MedicineUniversity of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Nivedita Poola
- Department of Emergency MedicineSUNY Downstate Medical CenterBrooklynNew YorkUSA
| | - O. Agatha Offorjebe
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Alpert MedicalSchool of Brown UniversityProvidenceRhode IslandUSA
| | - Adeline Dozois
- Department of Emergency MedicineAtrium Health Carolinas Medical CenterCharlotteNorth CarolinaUSA
| | - Gimbo Hyuha
- Department of Emergency MedicineMuhimbili University of Health And Allied ScienceDar es SalaamTanzania
| | | | - Carol McCammon
- Department of Emergency MedicineEastern Virginia Medical SchoolNorfolkVirginiaUSA
| | - Katie Wells
- Department of Emergency MedicineThe University of VermontBurlingtonVermontUSA
| | - Megan Rybarczk
- Department of Emergency MedicineUniversity of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Maria Paula Castillo
- Department of Emergency MedicineUniversidad de Ciencias MedicasSan JoseCosta RicaUSA
| | | | - Chris A. Rees
- Emory University School of MedicineAtlantaGeorgiaUSA
| | - Sanjukta Dutta
- Department of Emergency MedicineFortis HospitalKolkataIndia
| | - Stephanie Chow Garbern
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Alpert MedicalSchool of Brown UniversityProvidenceRhode IslandUSA
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Kumar R, Khosla R, McCoy D. Decolonising global health research: Shifting power for transformative change. PLOS GLOBAL PUBLIC HEALTH 2024; 4:e0003141. [PMID: 38656955 PMCID: PMC11042701 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0003141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
Recent debates on decolonizing global health have spurred interest in addressing the power asymmetries and knowledge hierarchies that sustain colonial ideas and relationships in global health research. This paper applies three intersecting dimensions of colonialism (colonialism within global health; colonisation of global health; and colonialism through global health) to develop a broader and more structural understanding of the policies and actions needed to decolonise global health research. It argues that existing guidelines and checklists designed to make global health research more equitable do not adequately address the underlying power asymmetries and biases that prevail across the global health research ecosystem. Beyond encouraging fairer partnerships within individual research projects, this paper calls for more emphasis on shifting the balance of decision-making power, redistributing resources, and holding research funders and other power-holders accountable to the places and peoples involved in and impacted by global health research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramya Kumar
- United Nations University-International Institute for Global Health, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Department of Community and Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Jaffna, Jaffna, Sri Lanka
| | - Rajat Khosla
- United Nations University-International Institute for Global Health, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - David McCoy
- United Nations University-International Institute for Global Health, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
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Eldridge L, Garton EM, Duncan K, Gopal S. Authorship of Publications Supported by NCI-Funded Grants Involving Low- and Middle-Income Countries. JAMA Netw Open 2024; 7:e243215. [PMID: 38551565 PMCID: PMC10980966 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.3215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2023] [Accepted: 01/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Importance Scientific publication is an important tool for knowledge dissemination and career advancement, but authors affiliated with institutions in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are historically underrepresented on publications. Objective To assess the country income level distribution of author affiliations for publications resulting from National Cancer Institute (NCI)-supported extramural grants between 2015 and 2019, with international collaborating institutions exclusively in 1 or more LMICs. Design and Setting This cross-sectional study assessed authorship on publications resulting from NCI-funded grants between October 1, 2015, and September 30, 2019. Grants with collaborators in LMICs were identified in the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Query/View/Report and linked to publications using Dimensions for NIH, published between 2011 and 2020. Statistical analysis was performed from May 2021 to July 2022. Main Outcomes and Measures Author institutional affiliation was used to classify author country and related income level as defined by the World Bank. Relative citation ratio and Altmetric data from Dimensions for NIH were used to compare citation impact measures using the Wilcoxon rank sum test. Results In this cross-sectional study, 159 grants were awarded to US institutions with collaborators in LMICs, and 5 grants were awarded directly to foreign institutions. These 164 grants resulted in 2428 publications, of which 1242 (51%) did not include any authors affiliated with an institution in an LMIC. In addition, 1884 (78%) and 2009 (83%) publications had a first or last author, respectively, affiliated with a high-income country (HIC). Publications with HIC-affiliated last authors also demonstrated greater citation impact compared with publications with LMIC-affiliated last authors as measured by relative citation ratios and Altmetric Attention Scores; publications with HIC-affiliated first authors also had higher Altmetric Attention Scores. Conclusions and Relevance This cross-sectional study suggests that LMIC-affiliated authors were underrepresented on publications resulting from NCI-funded grants involving LMICs. It is critical to promote equitable scientific participation by LMIC institutions in cancer research, including through current and planned programs led by the NCI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linsey Eldridge
- Center for Global Health, National Cancer Institute, Rockville, Maryland
| | - Elise M. Garton
- Center for Global Health, National Cancer Institute, Rockville, Maryland
| | - Kalina Duncan
- Center for Global Health, National Cancer Institute, Rockville, Maryland
| | - Satish Gopal
- Center for Global Health, National Cancer Institute, Rockville, Maryland
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Sohaili A, Asin J, Thomas PPM. The Fragmented Picture of Antimicrobial Resistance in Kenya: A Situational Analysis of Antimicrobial Consumption and the Imperative for Antimicrobial Stewardship. Antibiotics (Basel) 2024; 13:197. [PMID: 38534632 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics13030197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2023] [Revised: 02/12/2024] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) jeopardizes the effectiveness of essential antimicrobial agents in treating infectious diseases. Accelerated by human activities, AMR is prevalent in Sub-Saharan Africa, including Kenya, due to indiscriminate antibiotic use and limited diagnostics. This study aimed to assess Kenya's AMR efforts through a situational analysis of policy efficacy, interventions, and implementation, culminating in recommendations for strengthening mitigation. Employing two methodologies, this study evaluated Kenya's AMR endeavors. A systematic scoping review summarized AMR dynamic, and an expert validated the findings, providing an on-the-ground perspective. Antibiotic resistance is driven by factors including widespread misuse in human medicine due to irrational practices, consumer demand, and substandard antibiotics. Heavy antibiotic use in the agricultural sector leads to contamination of the food chain. The National Action Plan (NAP) reflects a One Health approach, yet decentralized healthcare and funding gaps hinder its execution. Although AMR surveillance includes multiple facets, diagnostic deficiencies persist. Expert insights recognize proactive NAP but underscore implementation obstacles. Kenya grapples with escalating resistance, but commendable policy efforts exist. However, fragmented implementations and complexities persist. Addressing this global threat demands investment in healthcare infrastructure, diagnostics, international partnerships, and sustainable strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aarman Sohaili
- Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, 6229 ER Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Judith Asin
- Pharmaceutical Systems Strengthening Lead, Ecumenical Pharmaceutical Network, P.O. Box 749, Nairobi 00606, Kenya
| | - Pierre P M Thomas
- Institute of Public Health Genomics, Genetics and Cell Biology Cluster, GROW Research School for Oncology and Development Biology, Maastricht University, 6229 ER Maastricht, The Netherlands
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Aryal A, Garcia FB, Scheitler AJ, Faraon EJA, Moncatar TJRT, Saniel OP, Lorenzo FME, Rosadia RAF, Shimkhada R, Macinko J, Ponce NA. Evolving academic and research partnerships in global health: a capacity-building partnership to assess primary healthcare in the Philippines. Glob Health Action 2023; 16:2216069. [PMID: 37249029 PMCID: PMC10231040 DOI: 10.1080/16549716.2023.2216069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 05/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Building fair, equitable, and beneficial partnerships between institutions collaborating in research in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) and high-income countries (HIC) has become an integral part of research capacity building in global health in recent years. In this paper, we offer an example of an academic collaboration between the University of California Los Angeles, Center for Health Policy and Research (UCLA CHPR) and the University of Philippines, Manila, College of Public Health (UPM CPH) that sought to build an equitable partnership between research institutions. The partnership was built on a project to build capacity for research and produce data for policy action for the prevention and care of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) through primary healthcare in the Philippines. The specific objectives of the project were to: (1) locally adapt the Primary Care Assessment Tool for the Philippines and use the adapted tool to measure facility-level primary care delivery, (2) conduct focus group discussions (FGDs) to gather qualitative observations regarding primary care readiness and capacity, and (3) conduct a comprehensive population-based health survey among adults on NCDs and prior healthcare experience. We describe here the progression of the partnership between these institutions to carry out the project and the elements that helped build a stronger connection between the institutions, such as mutual goal setting, cultural bridging, collaborative teams, and capacity building. This example, which can be used as a model depicting new directionality and opportunities for LMIC-HIC academic partnerships, was written based on the review of shared project documents, including study protocols, and written and oral communications with the project team members, including the primary investigators. The innovation of this partnership includes: LMIC-initiated project need identification, LMIC-based funding allocation, a capacity-building role of the HIC institution, and the expansion of scope through jointly offered courses on global health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anu Aryal
- Center for Health Policy and Research, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Fielding School of Public Health, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Fernando B. Garcia
- Department of Health Policy and Administration, College of Public Health, University of the Philippines Manila, Manila, Philippines
| | - A. J. Scheitler
- Center for Health Policy and Research, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Emerito Jose A. Faraon
- Department of Health Policy and Administration, College of Public Health, University of the Philippines Manila, Manila, Philippines
| | - T. J. Robinson T. Moncatar
- Department of Health Policy and Administration, College of Public Health, University of the Philippines Manila, Manila, Philippines
| | - Ofelia P. Saniel
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, College of Public Health, University of the Philippines Manila, Manila, Philippines
| | - Fely Marilyn E. Lorenzo
- Department of Health Policy and Administration, College of Public Health, University of the Philippines Manila, Manila, Philippines
| | - Roberto Antonio F. Rosadia
- Department of Health Policy and Administration, College of Public Health, University of the Philippines Manila, Manila, Philippines
| | - Riti Shimkhada
- Center for Health Policy and Research, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - James Macinko
- Center for Health Policy and Research, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Fielding School of Public Health, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Ninez A. Ponce
- Center for Health Policy and Research, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Fielding School of Public Health, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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Hussain M, Sadigh M, Sadigh M, Rastegar A, Sewankambo N. Colonization and decolonization of global health: which way forward? Glob Health Action 2023; 16:2186575. [PMID: 36940174 PMCID: PMC10035955 DOI: 10.1080/16549716.2023.2186575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Accepted: 02/27/2023] [Indexed: 03/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite taking on several forms throughout history such as colonial medicine, tropical medicine, and international health, the field of global health continues to uphold colonialist structures. History demonstrates that acts of colonialism inevitably lead to negative health outcomes. Colonial powers promoted medical advancements when diseases affected their own people, and only did so for locals when in the colonies' best interests. Numerous medical advancements in the United States also relied on the exploitation of vulnerable populations. This history is critical in evaluating the actions of the United States as a proclaimed leader in global health. A significant barrier to progress in the field of global health is that most leaders and leading institutions are located in high-income countries, thereby defining the global standard. This standard fails to meet the needs of most of the world. In times of crisis, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, colonial mentalities may be more evident. In fact, global health partnerships themselves are often ingrained in colonialism and may be counterproductive. Strategies for change have been called into question by the recent Black Lives Matter movement, particularly in evaluating the role that less privileged communities should have in their own fate. Globally, we can commit to evaluating our own biases and learning from one another.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mitra Sadigh
- Stony Brook University Renaissance School of Medicine, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - Majid Sadigh
- Department of Education and Innovation, Nuvance Health/University of Vermont College of Medicine, Burlington, NJ, USA
| | - Asghar Rastegar
- Department of Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Nelson Sewankambo
- Makerere College of Health Sciences, Makerere University School of Medicine, Kampala, Uganda
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Cavagna P, Leplay C, N'Guetta R, Kramoh KE, Diop IB, Balde DM, Mipinda JB, Azizi M, Jouven X, Antignac M. Hypertension treatment in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review. Cardiovasc J Afr 2023; 34:307-317. [PMID: 37266969 PMCID: PMC11040475 DOI: 10.5830/cvja-2022-065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2021] [Accepted: 11/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) faces the highest rate of hypertension worldwide. Blood pressure (BP) control rests on the association of lifestyle modification and antihypertensive medicines. We aimed to systematically review antihypertensive strategies implemented in SSA to achieve BP control. A systematic search beginning in 2003 was performed in MEDLINE, COCHRANE and EMBASE. We included only original and observational studies in SSA countries. Thirty studies were included from 11 countries. No study was multinational. The number of patients varied from 111 to 897 (median: 294; IQR: 192-478). Overall, 21% of patients received monotherapy, 42.6% two-drug and 26.6% three-drug combinations. Out of all the strategies, renin-angiotensin system (RAS) blockers were mostly prescribed, followed by diuretics and calcium channel blockers. In monotherapy, RAS blockers were the first to be prescribed. Only 10 articles described antihypertensive strategies beyond triple combinations. BP control was highly variable (range: 16.4 to 61.2%). Multicentre studies performed in several SSA countries are needed to ensure international guidelines actually do improve outcomes in SSA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pauline Cavagna
- Department of Pharmacy, Pitié Salpêtrière Hospital, AP-HP Sorbonne University, Paris, France; Université Paris Cité, Inserm, PARCC, Paris, France.
| | - Céline Leplay
- Department of Pharmacy, Pitié Salpêtrière Hospital, AP-HP Sorbonne University, Paris, France
| | | | | | | | - Dadhi M Balde
- Department of Cardiology, University Hospital of Conakry, Guinea
| | | | - Michel Azizi
- Cardiovascular Epidemiology Department, University of Paris, Paris, France; Hypertension Unit, European Georges Pompidou Hospital, and National Institute of Health and Medical Research, Clinical Research Centre, Paris, France
| | - Xavier Jouven
- Université Paris Cité, Inserm, PARCC, Paris, France; Cardiovascular Epidemiology Department, University of Paris, Paris, France; Cardiology Department, European Georges Pompidou Hospital, Paris, France
| | - Marie Antignac
- Department of Pharmacy, Pitié Salpêtrière Hospital, AP-HP Sorbonne University, Paris, France; Université Paris Cité, Inserm, PARCC, Paris, France
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Makoni M. African researchers' work is being overlooked - here's how to change that. Nature 2023:10.1038/d41586-023-03322-w. [PMID: 37880522 DOI: 10.1038/d41586-023-03322-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2023]
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15
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Young J, Xie M, Choi S, Osazuwa I, Robbins J, Bain PA, May C. Authorship Patterns in the Orthopaedic Journals of Low-Income and Lower-Middle-Income Countries. JB JS Open Access 2023; 8:e23.00072. [PMID: 38028376 PMCID: PMC10642905 DOI: 10.2106/jbjs.oa.23.00072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Extensive research collaborations exist between researchers from high-income countries (HICs) and those from low-income countries (LICs) and lower-middle-income countries (LMICs). Previous research has suggested that authors from LICs and LMICs are underrepresented as first and last authors in the orthopaedic literature on local populations, particularly in LICs. We present a bibliometric analysis of authorship solely in studies published in orthopaedic journals that are based in LICs and LMICs. Methods The Global Index Medicus was queried, and all articles published from January 1, 2010, to December 31, 2021, in journals with a focus on orthopaedic surgery that were based in an LIC or an LMIC were included. Logistic regressions were calculated to assess the predictors of local authorship. Results Over 92% of studies included in our analysis had first or last authors from LICs or LMICs. In terms of study type, the majority (89%) of studies were clinical, although largely of low-level evidence (78% of clinical studies were case reports, case series, or descriptive studies). None received funding. LIC or LMIC first authorship and last authorship were less likely for most types of nonclinical studies. LIC or LMIC first authorship was more likely when there were more study authors. LIC or LMIC first authorship and last authorship were less likely when there were more countries affiliated with the study authors. Finally, when compared with studies with only LIC or LMIC authors, those with a combination of HIC and LIC or LMIC authors had significantly lower rates of LIC or LMIC first authorship (93.3% versus 62.5%) and last authorship (97.7% versus 70.8%). Conclusions Our study presents one of the first analyses to assess authorship patterns in the orthopaedic literature of locally published journals in LICs and LMICs. Future studies are needed to contextualize our findings within a broader bibliometric landscape in order to better address the ongoing challenges to building research capacity in LICs and LMICs. Clinical Relevance Our study highlights important observations regarding authorship in international, collaborative research in orthopaedics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason Young
- Harvard Combined Orthopaedic Residency Program, Boston, Massachusetts
| | | | - Soy Choi
- Harvard College, Boston, Massachusetts
| | | | | | - Paul A. Bain
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
- Countway Library of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Collin May
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
- Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
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Kaufman R, Fair E, Reid M, Mirzazadeh A. Authorship equity in global health research: who gets the credit at University of California, San Francisco? BMJ Glob Health 2023; 8:e013713. [PMID: 37848271 PMCID: PMC10583030 DOI: 10.1136/bmjgh-2023-013713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2023] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Authorship inequity exists in global health research and can be representative of unequal partnerships. Previous studies showed that low-income and middle-income country (LMIC) authors are under-represented in publications from global collaborative research between LMIC and high-income countries (HIC). However, there are little data on trends for how specific HIC institutions are performing concerning equitable authorship. We used Web of Science to find published articles affiliated with the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), where an LMIC was referred to in the title, abstract or keywords from 2008 to 2021. The country affiliation of each author for all included articles was grouped based on World Bank data. A total of 5805 articles were included. On average, 53.6% (n=3109) of UCSF affiliated articles had at least one low-income country (LIC) or LMIC author; however, this number increased from 43.2% (n=63) in 2008 to 63.3% (n=421) in 2021. Overall, 16.3% (n=948) of UCSF affiliated articles had an LIC or LMIC researcher as the first author, 18.8% (n=1,059) had an LIC or LMIC researcher as second author, and 14.2% (n=820) had an LIC or LMIC researcher as last author. As long as manuscripts produced by UCSF have no LIC or LMIC authors included the university's commitment to authentic equity is undermined. Global health partnerships cannot be equitable without changing authorship trends between HIC and LMIC institutions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebekah Kaufman
- Institute for Global Health Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Elizabeth Fair
- Institute for Global Health Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Michael Reid
- Institute for Global Health Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
- Division of Infectious Diseases, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Ali Mirzazadeh
- Institute for Global Health Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
- HIV/STI Surveillance Research Center, and WHO Collaborating Center for HIV Surveillance, Institute for Futures Studies in Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran (the Islamic Republic of)
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17
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Akudinobi EA, Rietmeijer CA, Ndowa FJ, Kilmarx PH. Bibliometric Analysis of Authorship of Publications About Sub-Saharan Africa Published in the Journal Sexually Transmitted Diseases , 2011 to 2020. Sex Transm Dis 2023; 50:555-558. [PMID: 36943809 PMCID: PMC10430671 DOI: 10.1097/olq.0000000000001808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2023] [Accepted: 03/01/2023] [Indexed: 03/23/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND As a potential indicator of equity in research partnerships, we conducted a bibliometric analysis of author affiliations and author order in publications about sub-Saharan Africa published in the journal Sexually Transmitted Diseases . METHODS We identified articles in the journal Sexually Transmitted Diseases that were about sub-Saharan Africa and published from 2011 to 2020. Medical Subject Heading terms in PubMed were used to identity articles about sub-Saharan Africa. Authors with at least 1 affiliation in sub-Saharan Africa were characterized as sub-Saharan Africa-affiliated authors. RESULTS Of the 1439 articles that were published in Sexually Transmitted Diseases from 2011 to 2020, 148 (10%) had a Medical Subject Heading term for a sub-Saharan African country. Of the 604 authors of these 148 articles, 53 (36%) of the first authors, 493 (53%) of the middle authors, and 58 (40%) of the last authors had a sub-Saharan African affiliation; 13 (8.8%) of the articles had no authors with a sub-Saharan African affiliation. The proportions of sub-Saharan African-affiliated authors in first and last authorship positions did not change significantly from 2011-2015 (77 articles) to 2016-2020 (71 articles). CONCLUSIONS The underrepresentation of Africans in first and last authorship positions suggests power imbalances in global scientific partnerships. Funders, researchers, editors, publishers, and grant and manuscript reviewers each have roles in promoting equity in global health research. This study may serve as an example for journals to establish benchmarks and monitor progress toward a more equitable research environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ezinne A. Akudinobi
- From the Fogarty International Center, US National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
| | | | | | - Peter H. Kilmarx
- From the Fogarty International Center, US National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
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18
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Wondimagegn D, Whitehead CR, Cartmill C, Rodrigues E, Correia A, Salessi Lins T, Costa MJ. Faster, higher, stronger - together? A bibliometric analysis of author distribution in top medical education journals. BMJ Glob Health 2023; 8:e011656. [PMID: 37321659 PMCID: PMC10367082 DOI: 10.1136/bmjgh-2022-011656] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2022] [Accepted: 04/11/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Medical education and medical education research are growing industries that have become increasingly globalised. Recognition of the colonial foundations of medical education has led to a growing focus on issues of equity, absence and marginalisation. One area of absence that has been underexplored is that of published voices from low-income and middle-income countries. We undertook a bibliometric analysis of five top medical education journals to determine which countries were absent and which countries were represented in prestigious first and last authorship positions. METHODS Web of Science was searched for all articles and reviews published between 2012 and 2021 within Academic Medicine, Medical Education, Advances in Health Sciences Education, Medical Teacher, and BMC Medical Education. Country of origin was identified for first and last author of each publication, and the number of publications originating from each country was counted. RESULTS Our analysis revealed a dominance of first and last authors from five countries: USA, Canada, UK, Netherlands and Australia. Authors from these five countries had first or last authored 70% of publications. Of the 195 countries in the world, 43% (approximately 83) were not represented by a single publication. There was an increase in the percentage of publications from outside of these five countries from 23% in 2012 to 40% in 2021. CONCLUSION The dominance of wealthy nations within spaces that claim to be international is a finding that requires attention. We draw on analogies from modern Olympic sport and our own collaborative research process to show how academic publishing continues to be a colonised space that advantages those from wealthy and English-speaking countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dawit Wondimagegn
- College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Oromia, Ethiopia
| | - Cynthia Ruth Whitehead
- The Wilson Centre, University Health Network and Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Family & Community Medicine, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Women's College Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Carrie Cartmill
- The Wilson Centre, University Health Network and Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Eloy Rodrigues
- Documentation and Library Services, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
| | - Antónia Correia
- Documentation and Library Services, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
| | - Tiago Salessi Lins
- Department of Health Promotion, Federal University of Paraiba, Paraiba, Brazil
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Modlin CE, Kankaka EN, Chang LW, Sewankambo NK, Ali J. Exploring HIV/AIDS investigator perceptions of equity within research partnerships between low-and middle-income and high-income countries: a pilot survey. Health Res Policy Syst 2023; 21:32. [PMID: 37127604 PMCID: PMC10152781 DOI: 10.1186/s12961-023-00977-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2022] [Accepted: 03/27/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Recommendations for research partnerships between low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and high-income countries (HICs) stress the importance of equity within the collaboration. However, there is limited knowledge of the practical challenges and successes involved in establishing equitable research practices. This study describes the results of a pilot survey assessing key issues on LMIC/HIC partnership equity within HIV/AIDS research collaborations and compares perspectives of these issues between LMIC- and HIC-based investigators. METHODS Survey participants were selected using clustered, random sampling and snowball sampling. Responses were compared between LMIC and HIC respondents using standard descriptive statistics. Qualitative respondent feedback was analyzed using a combination of exploratory and confirmatory thematic analysis. RESULTS The majority of categories within four themes (research interests and resources; leadership, trust, and communication; cultural and ethical competence; representation and benefits) demonstrated relative consensus between LMIC and HIC respondents except for 'lack of trust within the partnership' which was rated as a more pronounced challenge by LMIC respondents. However, subcategories within some of the themes had significant differences between respondent groups including: equitable setting of the research agenda, compromise within a partnership, the role of regulatory bodies in monitoring partnerships for equity, and post-study access to research technology. CONCLUSIONS These efforts serve as a proof-of-concept survey characterizing contemporary issues around international research partnership equity. The frequency and severity of specific equity issues can be assessed, highlighting similarities versus differences in experiences between LMIC and HIC partners as potential targets for further discussion and evaluation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chelsea E Modlin
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
- Johns Hopkins Berman Institute for Bioethics, Baltimore, MD, USA.
| | - Edward Nelson Kankaka
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Rakai Health Sciences Program, Rakai, Uganda
| | - Larry W Chang
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Nelson K Sewankambo
- Rakai Health Sciences Program, Rakai, Uganda
- Department of Medicine, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Joseph Ali
- Johns Hopkins Berman Institute for Bioethics, Baltimore, MD, USA.
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA.
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Buser JM, Morris KL, Millicent Dzomeku V, Endale T, Smith YR, August E. Lessons learnt from a scientific peer-review training programme designed to support research capacity and professional development in a global community. BMJ Glob Health 2023; 8:e012224. [PMID: 37185299 PMCID: PMC10151889 DOI: 10.1136/bmjgh-2023-012224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2023] [Accepted: 04/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023] Open
Abstract
High-quality peer-reviewer training open to researchers across the globe has the potential to improve the published literature, however, this type of training is not widely available. In this paper, we describe an online peer-reviewer training programme, highlight its effectiveness in building peer review and writing skills, and discuss challenges and lessons learnt. This training programme, open to researchers across the globe, acquaints participants with challenges to and inequities in publishing and educates them about writing effective peer reviews. A focal point is how to provide specific and respectful feedback to help authors get accepted for peer review at an academic journal. Forty-nine participants from or residing in six continents completed the training. All programme evaluation respondents agreed that the orientation helped them gain a better understanding of their role as a peer reviewer at Pre-Publication Support Service. Most agreed that the training was helpful in improving their peer-review skills, and that the training was helpful in improving their writing skills. Participants wanted more networking and collaboration opportunities with other peer reviewers, inclusion of a qualitatively researched example paper and improved communication about the required time commitment. Our online programme with multiple time options was geographically inclusive but internet connectivity was challenging for some participants. Peer-reviewer training programmes can help researchers build their peer review and writing skills and enhance participants' understanding of disparities in publishing. Integrating a geographically diverse group of researchers has the potential to enrich the discussions and learning in such a programme.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie M Buser
- Center for International Reproductive Health Training at the University of Michigan (CIRHT-UM), University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Kirby L Morris
- School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | | | - Tamrat Endale
- Center for International Reproductive Health Training at the University of Michigan (CIRHT-UM), University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Yolanda R Smith
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Ella August
- School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
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21
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Cichocki MN, Chung WT, Chung KC. Equity in Global Health Research. Plast Reconstr Surg 2023; 151:687-692. [PMID: 36989337 DOI: 10.1097/prs.0000000000009978] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/30/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Meghan N Cichocki
- From the Section of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Michigan Medical School
| | - William T Chung
- From the Section of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Michigan Medical School
| | - Kevin C Chung
- From the Section of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Michigan Medical School
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Veale CGL, Olomola TO, Chellan P, Edkins AL. Biological and Medicinal Chemistry in Africa. Chembiochem 2023; 24:e202300060. [PMID: 36942876 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.202300060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2023] [Revised: 02/15/2023] [Indexed: 03/23/2023]
Abstract
The young, fast-growing population of Africa means that harnessing the economic benefits of scientific research is critical to sustained and equitable growth in the continent. Moreover, the whole world would benefit from the added intellectual contribution that would come from nurturing African science. The high burden of neglected diseases in Africa makes chemical biology a particularly important field. In this editorial, the reconvergence of science conducted at the interface of chemistry and biology is placed in the context of African participation, its importance to global science and the unique blend of supporting and hindering factors that influence African scientific contributions. The new Biological and Medicinal Chemistry in Africa special collection showcases a broad spectrum of African chemical biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clinton G L Veale
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, Cape Town, 7700, South Africa
| | - Temitope O Olomola
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ile, 220005, Nigeria
| | - Prinessa Chellan
- Department of Chemistry and Polymer Science, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland, 7602, Stellenbosch, South Africa
| | - Adrienne L Edkins
- Biomedical Biotechnology Research Unit (BioBRU), Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Rhodes University, Makanda, 6139, South Africa
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Mutapi F, Banda G, Woolhouse M. What does equitable global health research and delivery look like? Tackling Infections to Benefit Africa (TIBA) partnership as a case study. BMJ Glob Health 2023; 8:bmjgh-2022-011028. [PMID: 36963785 PMCID: PMC10040064 DOI: 10.1136/bmjgh-2022-011028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2022] [Accepted: 01/24/2023] [Indexed: 03/26/2023] Open
Abstract
There is a current global push to identify and implement best practice for delivering maximum impact from development research in low-income and middle-income countries. Here, we describe a model of research and capacity building that challenges traditional approaches taken by western funders in Africa. Tackling Infections to Benefit Africa (TIBA) is a global health research and delivery partnership with a focus on strengthening health systems to combat neglected tropical diseases, malaria and emerging pathogens in Africa. Partners are academic and research institutions based in Ghana, Sudan, Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Botswana, South Africa and the UK. Fifteen other African countries have participated in TIBA activities. With a starting budget of under £7 million, and in just 4 years, TIBA has had a verified impact on knowledge, policy practice and capacity building, and on national and international COVID-19 responses in multiple African countries. TIBA's impact is shown in context-specific metrics including: strengthening the evidence base underpinning international policy on neglected tropical diseases; 77% of research publications having Africa-based first and/or last authors; postgraduate, postdoctoral and professional training; career progression for African researchers and health professionals with no net brain drain from participating countries; and supporting African institutions. Training in real-time SARS-CoV-2 viral genome sequencing provided new national capabilities and capacities that contributed to both national responses and global health security through variant detection and tracking. TIBA's experience confirms that health research for Africa thrives when the agenda and priorities are set in Africa, by Africans, and the work is done in Africa. Here, we share 10 actionable recommendations for researchers and funders from our lessons learnt.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisca Mutapi
- School of Biological Sciences. Institute for Immunology and Infection Research, Ashworth Laboratories, Edinburgh, UK
- Tackling Infections to Benefit Africa (TIBA) Partnership, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Geoffrey Banda
- Tackling Infections to Benefit Africa (TIBA) Partnership, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- Science, Technology and Innovation Studies Twitter, The University of Edinburgh School of Social and Political Science, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Mark Woolhouse
- Tackling Infections to Benefit Africa (TIBA) Partnership, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- Usher Institute of Population Health Sciences & Informatics, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
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Pritchard J, Alavian S, Soogoor A, Bartels SA, Hall AK. Global health competencies in postgraduate medical education: a scoping review and mapping to the CanMEDS physician competency framework. CANADIAN MEDICAL EDUCATION JOURNAL 2023; 14:70-79. [PMID: 36998501 PMCID: PMC10042784 DOI: 10.36834/cmej.75275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Background Global Health opportunities are popular, with many reported benefits. There is a need however, to identify and situate Global Health competencies within postgraduate medical education. We sought to identify and map Global Health competencies to the CanMEDS framework to assess the degree of equivalency and uniqueness between them. Methods JBI scoping review methodology was utilized to identify relevant papers searching MEDLINE, Embase, and Web of Science. Studies were reviewed independently by two of three researchers according to pre-determined eligibility criteria. Included studies identified competencies in Global Health training at the postgraduate medicine level, which were then mapped to the CanMEDS framework. Results A total of 19 articles met criteria for inclusion (17 from literature search and two from manual reference review). We identified 36 Global Health competencies; the majority (23) aligned with CanMEDS competencies within the framework. Ten were mapped to CanMEDS roles but lacked specific key or enabling competencies, while three did not fit within the specific CanMEDS roles. Conclusions We mapped the identified Global Health competencies, finding broad coverage of required CanMEDS competencies. We identified additional competencies for CanMEDS committee consideration and discuss the benefits of their inclusion in future physician competency frameworks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jodie Pritchard
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Queen’s University, Ontario, Canada
| | - Sara Alavian
- Division of Emergency Medicine, Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Susan A Bartels
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Queen’s University, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Queen’s University, Ontario, Canada
| | - Andrew K Hall
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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Shambe I, Thomas K, Bradley J, Marchant T, Weiss HA, Webb EL. Bibliometric analysis of authorship patterns in publications from a research group at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, 2016-2020. BMJ Glob Health 2023; 8:bmjgh-2022-011053. [PMID: 36792228 PMCID: PMC9933664 DOI: 10.1136/bmjgh-2022-011053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2022] [Accepted: 01/11/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Authors from low and middle-income country (LMIC) institutions are under-represented in publications of research based in LMICs. This case study of publications from authors within the Medical Research Council International Statistics and Epidemiology Group (MRC-ISEG), a global health research group affiliated to the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine in the UK, aims to describe patterns in authorship and factors associated with under-representation. METHODS Papers were included if they were published between January 2016 and December 2020 inclusive, included an author from the MRC-ISEG and described work conducted in a LMIC. Authors' affiliations were classified using World Bank country income classifications into LMIC affiliations only, high-income country (HIC) affiliations only and mixed LMIC/HIC affiliations. Multinomial logistic regression analysis was used to assess associations of author affiliation category with authorship position, and whether patterns varied by journal impact factor quartile and multiple versus single-country studies. RESULTS A total of 882 papers, including 10 570 authors describing research conducted in 61 LMICs, were included. Compared with authors of HIC-only affiliation, those with LMIC-only affiliation were less likely to be in first authorship position (relative risk ratio (RRR)=0.51, 95% CI 0.44 to 0.60) and mixed HIC/LMIC affiliation authors were more likely (RRR=2.80, 95% CI 2.35 to 3.34). Compared with authors of HIC-only affiliation, those with LMIC-only affiliation were less likely to be in last authorship position (RRR=0.20, 95% CI 0.16 to 0.24) and those with mixed HIC/LMIC affiliations were more likely (RRR=1.95, 95% CI 1.65 to 2.30). The proportion of senior authors with LMIC-only affiliation was lowest for the highest impact journals, and in multicountry versus single-country studies. CONCLUSION Alongside increasing research capacity within LMICs, HIC institutions should ensure that LMIC-affiliated researchers are properly represented in global research. Academics working in global health should be judged on their involvement in representative collaborative research rather than individual achievements in authorship position.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iornum Shambe
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Jos, Jos, Nigeria
| | - Katherine Thomas
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Faculty of Epidemiology and Public Health, London, UK
| | - John Bradley
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Faculty of Epidemiology and Public Health, London, UK
| | - Tanya Marchant
- Disease Control, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Helen A Weiss
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Faculty of Epidemiology and Public Health, London, UK
| | - Emily L Webb
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Faculty of Epidemiology and Public Health, London, UK
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Hodson DZ, Etoundi YM, Parikh S, Boum Y. Striving towards true equity in global health: A checklist for bilateral research partnerships. PLOS GLOBAL PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 3:e0001418. [PMID: 36963065 PMCID: PMC10021183 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0001418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Interest in "global health" among schools of medicine, public health, and other health disciplines in high-income countries (HIC) continues to rise. Persistent power imbalances, racism, and maintenance of colonialism/neocolonialism plague global health efforts, including global health scholarship. Scholarly projects conducted in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) by trainees at these schools in HIC often exacerbate these problems. Drawing on published literature and shared experiences, we review key inequalities within each phase of research, from design through implementation and analysis/dissemination, and make concrete and practical recommendations to improve equity at each stage. Key problems facing global health scholarship include HIC-centric nature of global health organizations, paucity of funding directly available for LMIC investigators and trainees, misplaced emphasis on HIC selected issues rather than local solutions to local problems, the dominance of English language in the scientific literature, and exploitation of LMIC team members. Four key principles lie at the foundation of all our recommendations: 1) seek locally derived and relevant solutions to global health issues, 2) create paired collaborations between HIC and LMIC institutions at all levels of training, 3) provide funding for both HIC and LMIC team members, 4) assign clear roles and responsibilities to value, leverage, and share the strengths of all team members. When funding for global health research is predicated upon more ethical and equitable collaborations, the nature of global health collaborations will evolve to be more ethical and equitable. Therefore, we propose the Douala Equity Checklist as a 20-item tool HIC and LMIC institutions can use throughout the conduct of global health projects to ensure more equitable collaborations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Z. Hodson
- Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States of America
| | - Yannick Mbarga Etoundi
- Douala Military Hospital, Douala, Cameroon
- Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Douala, Douala, Cameroon
| | - Sunil Parikh
- Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States of America
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, United States of America
| | - Yap Boum
- Epicentre, Yaoundé, Cameroon
- Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Science, University of Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroon
- Institut Pasteur of Bangui, Bangui, Central African Republic
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Onguka S, de Meijer F, Basnight-Brown DM. Overdue Assignment: A Case Study on Academic Writing Development for Postgraduate Health Professional Trainees in Kenya. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL EDUCATION AND CURRICULAR DEVELOPMENT 2023; 10:23821205231206220. [PMID: 38025028 PMCID: PMC10656809 DOI: 10.1177/23821205231206220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2022] [Accepted: 06/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Though essential for research capacity building, development of authorial identity for thesis projects and publications has been overlooked in African postgraduate residency programs. This study aims to explore authorial identity among postgraduate health professional trainees at two universities in Kenya. It also evaluated the effect of Age of Acquisition of English on confidence in writing. METHODS This exploratory case study utilized quantitative and qualitative data. Pre- and post-workshop surveys were generated from learning objectives and evaluated confidence in writing and plagiarism awareness, both important attributes of authorial identity. As confidence in writing might be influenced by the English Age of Acquisition, the questionnaire also included items from the Language Experience and Proficiency Questionnaire. Pre- and post-workshop responses were analyzed using planned comparisons. Focus group discussions further explored authorial identity among participants and were analyzed thematically. RESULTS A total of 57 postgraduate trainees from nine medical specialties participated in the study. Both confidence in writing and plagiarism awareness improved significantly after the workshop: confidence in writing pre-test (M = 3.20, SD = 0.59) and post-test (M = 3.97, SD = 0.61), t(56) = 6.93, P < .001, d = 0.9; plagiarism awareness pre-test (M = 3.01, SD 0.72) and post-test (M = 3.92, SD 0.65), t(56) = 6,8, P < .001, d = 0.9. The average English Age of Acquisition was 4.98 years and showed no correlation with confidence in writing. Participants recognized that authentic authorship requires hard work and suggested plagiarism is driven by inadequate writing instruction. They proposed that changing perceptions of research and writing could overcome a graduation requirement mindset among trainees. CONCLUSIONS Interactive workshops using procedural and enculturation approaches may be useful to develop authorial identity among postgraduate health professionals in Kenya. Further research is needed on evaluating workshop effectiveness using direct indicators of learning and other curricular reforms to promote authorship.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie Onguka
- Department of Family Medicine, Kabarak University, Kabarak, Kenya
| | - Fleur de Meijer
- Department of Family Medicine, Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Dana M Basnight-Brown
- Department of Psychology, United States International University – Africa, Nairobi, Kenya
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Ramírez-Castañeda V, Westeen EP, Frederick J, Amini S, Wait DR, Achmadi AS, Andayani N, Arida E, Arifin U, Bernal MA, Bonaccorso E, Bonachita Sanguila M, Brown RM, Che J, Condori FP, Hartiningtias D, Hiller AE, Iskandar DT, Jiménez RA, Khelifa R, Márquez R, Martínez-Fonseca JG, Parra JL, Peñalba JV, Pinto-García L, Razafindratsima OH, Ron SR, Souza S, Supriatna J, Bowie RCK, Cicero C, McGuire JA, Tarvin RD. A set of principles and practical suggestions for equitable fieldwork in biology. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2122667119. [PMID: 35972961 PMCID: PMC9407469 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2122667119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Field biology is an area of research that involves working directly with living organisms in situ through a practice known as "fieldwork." Conducting fieldwork often requires complex logistical planning within multiregional or multinational teams, interacting with local communities at field sites, and collaborative research led by one or a few of the core team members. However, existing power imbalances stemming from geopolitical history, discrimination, and professional position, among other factors, perpetuate inequities when conducting these research endeavors. After reflecting on our own research programs, we propose four general principles to guide equitable, inclusive, ethical, and safe practices in field biology: be collaborative, be respectful, be legal, and be safe. Although many biologists already structure their field programs around these principles or similar values, executing equitable research practices can prove challenging and requires careful consideration, especially by those in positions with relatively greater privilege. Based on experiences and input from a diverse group of global collaborators, we provide suggestions for action-oriented approaches to make field biology more equitable, with particular attention to how those with greater privilege can contribute. While we acknowledge that not all suggestions will be applicable to every institution or program, we hope that they will generate discussions and provide a baseline for training in proactive, equitable fieldwork practices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valeria Ramírez-Castañeda
- Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720
| | - Erin P. Westeen
- Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720
- Department of Environmental, Science, Policy, and Management, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720
| | - Jeffrey Frederick
- Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720
| | - Sina Amini
- Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720
| | - Daniel R. Wait
- Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720
| | - Anang S. Achmadi
- Research Center for Applied Zoology, National Research and Innovation Agency, Jawa Barat 16911, Indonesia
| | - Noviar Andayani
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Indonesia, Kampus UI Depok, Depok 16424, Indonesia
- Research Center for Climate Change, Gedung Laboratorium Multidisiplin, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Indonesia, Depok 16424, Indonesia
| | - Evy Arida
- Research Center for Applied Zoology, National Research and Innovation Agency, Jawa Barat 16911, Indonesia
| | - Umilaela Arifin
- Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720
- Centre for Taxonomy and Morphology, Leibniz Institute for the Analysis of Biodiversity Change, Hamburg 20146 Germany
| | - Moisés A. Bernal
- Department of Biological Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849
| | - Elisa Bonaccorso
- Laboratorio de Biología Evolutiva, Colegio de Ciencias Biológicas y Ambientales e Instituto Biósfera, Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Quito 170901, Ecuador
| | - Marites Bonachita Sanguila
- Biodiversity Informatics and Research Center, Father Saturnino Urios University, Butuan City 8600, Philippines
| | - Rafe M. Brown
- Biodiversity Institute, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66044
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66044
| | - Jing Che
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resource and Evolution and Yunnan Key Laboratory of Biodiversity and Ecological Security of Gaoligong Mountain, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 650223 Kunming, China
- Center for Excellence in Animal Evolution and Genetics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 650223 Kunming, China
| | - F. Peter Condori
- Museo de Biodiversidad del Perú, Cusco 08003, Perú
- Museo de Historia Natural de la Universidad Nacional de San Antonio Abad del Cusco, Cusco 08002, Perú
| | | | - Anna E. Hiller
- Museum of Natural Science, Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803
| | - Djoko T. Iskandar
- Basic Sciences Commision, Indonesian Academy of Sciences, Jakarta 10110, Indonesia
- School of Life Sciences and Technology, Institut Teknologi Bandung, Bandung 40132, Indonesia
| | - Rosa Alicia Jiménez
- Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720
- Escuela de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas y Farmacia, Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala, Ciudad de Guatemala 01012, Guatemala
| | - Rassim Khelifa
- Institute for Resources, Environment and Sustainability, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
- Biology Department, Condordia University, Montreal, Quebec H4B 1R6, Canada
| | - Roberto Márquez
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109
- Michigan Society of Fellows, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109
| | - José G. Martínez-Fonseca
- School of Forestry, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ 86011
- Nicaraguan Bat Conservation Program, Carazo, Nicaragua
| | - Juan L. Parra
- Grupo de Ecología y Evolución de Vertebrados, Instituto de Biología, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín 050010, Colombia
| | - Joshua V. Peñalba
- Center for Integrative Biodiversity Discovery, Museum für Naturkunde, Leibniz Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Science, Berlin 10115, Germany
| | - Lina Pinto-García
- Centro Interdisciplinario de Estudios sobre el Desarrollo, Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá 111711, Colombia
- Institute for Science, Innovation and Society, University of Oxford, Oxford OX2 6PN, United Kingdom
| | - Onja H. Razafindratsima
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720
- Mention Zoologie et Biodiversité Animale, Université d'Antananarivo, Antananarivo 101, Madagascar
| | - Santiago R. Ron
- Museo de Zoología, Escuela de Biología, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, Quito 170525, Ecuador
| | - Sara Souza
- Environment, Health & Safety, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720
| | - Jatna Supriatna
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Indonesia, Kampus UI Depok, Depok 16424, Indonesia
- Research Center for Climate Change, Gedung Laboratorium Multidisiplin, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Indonesia, Depok 16424, Indonesia
| | - Rauri C. K. Bowie
- Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720
| | - Carla Cicero
- Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720
| | - Jimmy A. McGuire
- Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720
| | - Rebecca D. Tarvin
- Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720
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Akudinobi EA, Kilmarx PH. Bibliometric analysis of sub-Saharan African and US authorship in publications about sub-Saharan Africa funded by the Fogarty International Center, 2008-2020. BMJ Glob Health 2022; 7:e009466. [PMID: 35998980 PMCID: PMC9403115 DOI: 10.1136/bmjgh-2022-009466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2022] [Accepted: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Authorship and author order have been used as one measure to characterise equity in research partnerships. First and last (senior) authorships often denote scientific merit as well as potential for research career advancement. A previous analysis found that only about 20%-25% of publications about Africa with coauthors from top-ranking US universities had a first or last author from the topic country. In this bibliometric analysis, we evaluated authorship of publications about sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) funded by the Fogarty International Center (FIC) of the US National Institutes of Health, an institution with a mission of training and capacity building in low-income and middle-income countries. METHODS We analysed publications from PubMed and Web of Science that were funded by FIC, about SSA, and published between 2008 and 2020. Relative citation ratio (RCR) data from iCite were used to compare group citation impact measures using the Wilcoxon rank sum test. RESULTS A total of 3446 publications met the inclusion criteria, with annual number increasing from 114 in 2008 to 352 in 2020. SSA-affiliated first authors increased from 53 (47%) in 2008 to 224 (63%) in 2020. SSA-affiliated last authors increased from 32 (28%) to 166 (47%). For both first and last authorships, the median RCR value of publications with SSA-affiliated authors was lower than for US-affiliated authors (first authors: 0.84 vs 0.95, p=0.0021; last authors: 0.88 vs 0.91, p=0.010). CONCLUSION The increase in first and last authorships by SSA-affiliated authors of publications about SSA suggests increasing equity in research activities funded by FIC. Further investigation and actions are needed to establish how authorship reflects other aspects of equity, the implication of the lower RCR in papers with SSA-affiliated first and last authors and what policies and practices are needed to further promote equity in global health research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ezinne A Akudinobi
- John E. Fogarty International Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Peter H Kilmarx
- John E. Fogarty International Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
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Tuyishime H, Hornstein P, Lasebikan N, Rubagumya F, Mutebi M, Fadelu T. Authorship Distribution and Under-Representation of Sub-Saharan African Authors in Global Oncology Publications. JCO Glob Oncol 2022; 8:e2200020. [PMID: 35696623 PMCID: PMC9225604 DOI: 10.1200/go.22.00020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Local researchers must be engaged in research conducted in their populations. However, local authors from low- and middle-income countries are often under-represented in global health journals. This report aims to assess and describe the representation of authors in the Journal of Clinical Oncology Global Oncology (JCO GO). Sub-Saharan African authors are under-represented in global onc publications →* more equity is needed. *The authors would like to use an arrow emoji in their tweet.![]()
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Paula Hornstein
- Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine, Pasadena, CA
| | - Nwamaka Lasebikan
- Department of Radiation Medicine, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria
| | | | - Miriam Mutebi
- Breast Surgical Oncology, Aga Khan University, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Temidayo Fadelu
- Center for Global Cancer Medicine, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA
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Keddy KH, Saha S, Kariuki S, Kalule JB, Qamar FN, Haq Z, Okeke IN. Using big data and mobile health to manage diarrhoeal disease in children in low-income and middle-income countries: societal barriers and ethical implications. THE LANCET INFECTIOUS DISEASES 2022; 22:e130-e142. [DOI: 10.1016/s1473-3099(21)00585-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2021] [Revised: 08/23/2021] [Accepted: 08/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
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Sándor-Bajusz KA, Kraut A, Baasan O, Márovics G, Berényi K, Lohner S. Publication of clinical trials on medicinal products: follow-up on trials authorized in Hungary. Trials 2022; 23:330. [PMID: 35449017 PMCID: PMC9022244 DOI: 10.1186/s13063-022-06268-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2021] [Accepted: 04/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Clinical research should provide reliable evidence to clinicians, health policy makers, and researchers. The reliability of evidence will be assured once study planning, conducting, and reporting of results are transparent. The present research investigates publication rates, time until publication, and characteristics of clinical trials on medicinal products associated with timely publication of results, measures of scientific impact, authorship, and open access publication. METHODS Clinical trials authorized in Hungary in 2012 were followed until publication and/or June 2020. Corresponding scientific publications were searched via clinical trial registries, PubMed (MEDLINE), and Google. RESULTS Overall, 330 clinical trials were authorized in 2012 of which 232 trials were completed for more than 1 year in June 2020. The proportion of industry initiation was high (97%). Time to publication was 21 (22) months [median (IQR)]. Time to publication was significantly shorter when trials involved both European and non-European countries (26 vs 69 months [median]; hazard ratio = 0.38, 95% CI 0.22-0.66, p< 0.001), and were registered in both EU CTR and clinicaltrials.gov (27 vs 88 months; hazard ratio = 0.24, 95% CI 0.11-0.54; p< 0.001) based on survival analyses. A significant amount (24.1%) of unpublished clinical trial results were accessible in a trial register. The majority of available publications were published "open access" (70.93%). A minority of identified publications had a Hungarian author (21.5%). CONCLUSIONS We encourage academic researchers to plan, register and conduct trials on medicinal products. Registries should be considered as an important source of information of clinical trial results. Publications with domestic co-authors contribute to the research output of a country. Measurable domestic scientific impact of trials on medicinal products needs further improvement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kinga Amália Sándor-Bajusz
- Cochrane Hungary, Clinical Centre of the University of Pécs, Medical School, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary.,Doctoral School of Clinical Neurosciences, Medical School, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Andrea Kraut
- Cochrane Hungary, Clinical Centre of the University of Pécs, Medical School, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary.,Doctoral School of Law, Faculty of Law, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Odgerel Baasan
- Cochrane Hungary, Clinical Centre of the University of Pécs, Medical School, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary.,Doctoral School of Health Sciences, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Gergely Márovics
- Department of Public Health Medicine, Medical School, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Károly Berényi
- Department of Public Health Medicine, Medical School, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Szimonetta Lohner
- Cochrane Hungary, Clinical Centre of the University of Pécs, Medical School, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary. .,Department of Public Health Medicine, Medical School, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary.
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Clarke O, Chan WYD, Bukuru S, Logan J, Wong R. Assessing knowledge of and attitudes towards plagiarism and ability to recognize plagiaristic writing among university students in Rwanda. HIGHER EDUCATION 2022; 85:247-263. [PMID: 35431322 PMCID: PMC9005340 DOI: 10.1007/s10734-022-00830-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Plagiarism is a serious type of scholastic misconduct. In Rwanda, no research has been conducted to assess university students' attitudes and knowledge of plagiarism and if they have the skills to avoid plagiarizing. This study was conducted to assess knowledge of and attitudes towards plagiarism, as well as ability to recognize plagiaristic writing, among university students in Rwanda. An online questionnaire containing 10 knowledge questions, 10 attitude statements, and 5 writing cases with excerpts to test identification of plagiarism was administered between February and April 2021. Out of the 330 university students from 40 universities who completed the survey, 75.8% had a high knowledge level (score ≥ 80%), but only 11.6% had a high score in recognizing plagiaristic writing (score ≥ 80%). There was no statistically significant association between knowledge level and ability to recognize plagiaristic writing (P = 0.109). Lower odds were found in both diploma/certificate and bachelor students of having high knowledge as well as of having high ability to recognize plagiaristic writing than in master's students. Although respondents generally disapproved of plagiarism, approximately half of the respondents indicated that sometimes plagiarism is unavoidable, and self-plagiarism should not be punished in the same way as plagiarism of others' work. Inter-collegial collaboration on effective plagiarism policies and training programs is needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivia Clarke
- Educational Development and Quality Center, University of Global Health Equity, Butaro, Rwanda
| | | | - Saddam Bukuru
- Bill and Joyce Cummings Institute of Global Health, University of Global Health Equity, Butaro, Rwanda
| | - Jenae Logan
- Executive Education, University of Global Health Equity, Butaro, Rwanda
- Partners In Health, Boston, MA USA
| | - Rex Wong
- Bill and Joyce Cummings Institute of Global Health, University of Global Health Equity, Butaro, Rwanda
- School of Public Health, Yale University, New Haven, CT USA
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Bourlon MT, Jiménez Franco B, Castro-Alonso FJ, Bourlon C, Matar CF, Gunn E, Ginsburg O, Lopes G, Segelov E. Global Oncology Authorship and Readership Patterns. JCO Glob Oncol 2022; 8:e2100299. [PMID: 35258989 PMCID: PMC8920442 DOI: 10.1200/go.21.00299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/09/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Global Oncology is the movement to improve equitable access to cancer control and care, recognizing challenges because of economic and social factors between high-, middle-, and low-income countries (HIC, MIC, and LIC, respectively). The JCO Global Oncology (JCO GO) is a major platform dedicated to publishing peer-reviewed research relevant to populations with limited resources. To assess the success of its goals of encouraging global interaction and increasing MIC and LIC engagement, we analyzed authorship and readership patterns. METHODS Metadata of logged views between January 1, 2018, and June 30, 2019, of articles published in 2018 by JCO GO were identified using Google Analytics. The country of origin of each author and those who accessed the journal were categorized according to the 2019 income group World Bank Classification (WBC). RESULTS One hundred thirty-two articles were published in JCO GO in 2018. Corresponding authors came from 34 nations: 35% HIC, 47% MIC, and 18% LIC. The top publishing countries were the United States, India, Brazil, Mexico, and Nigeria. Article authors were solely from within one WBC group in 41% (23% HIC, 16% MIC, and 2% LIC). In those with mixed-WBC authorship origins, collaborations were 42% HIC + MIC, 11% HIC + LIC, and 6% HIC + MIC + LIC, but none with MIC + LIC. Regarding viewing, 87,860 views originated from 180 countries (82% of the WBC list): 35% HIC, 51% MIC, and 14% LIC. The most common accessing nations were the United States, India, the United Kingdom, Brazil, and Ethiopia. CONCLUSION More than half of JCO GO's authorship comes from mixed WBC groups, with viewership extending to most of the world's nations. Areas to address are low level of LIC corresponding authors, few papers from authors across all WBC groups, no publications from MIC + LIC collaborations, and a low percentage of readership by LIC. These data provide focus to target interventions aimed at reducing the academic segregation of LIC and improving interactions across all WBC countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria T Bourlon
- Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Brenda Jiménez Franco
- Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Mexico City, Mexico
| | | | - Christianne Bourlon
- Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Charbel F Matar
- American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Emilie Gunn
- American Society of Clinical Oncology, Alexandria, VA
| | - Ophira Ginsburg
- Perlmutter Cancer Center, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York City, NY
| | - Gilberto Lopes
- University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL
| | - Eva Segelov
- Monash University and Monash Health, Subang Jaya, Malaysia
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Phoobane P, Masinde M, Mabhaudhi T. Predicting Infectious Diseases: A Bibliometric Review on Africa. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19031893. [PMID: 35162917 PMCID: PMC8835071 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19031893] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2022] [Revised: 01/28/2022] [Accepted: 01/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Africa has a long history of novel and re-emerging infectious disease outbreaks. This reality has attracted the attention of researchers interested in the general research theme of predicting infectious diseases. However, a knowledge mapping analysis of literature to reveal the research trends, gaps, and hotspots in predicting Africa’s infectious diseases using bibliometric tools has not been conducted. A bibliometric analysis of 247 published papers on predicting infectious diseases in Africa, published in the Web of Science core collection databases, is presented in this study. The results indicate that the severe outbreaks of infectious diseases in Africa have increased scientific publications during the past decade. The results also reveal that African researchers are highly underrepresented in these publications and that the United States of America (USA) is the most productive and collaborative country. The relevant hotspots in this research field include malaria, models, classification, associations, COVID-19, and cost-effectiveness. Furthermore, weather-based prediction using meteorological factors is an emerging theme, and very few studies have used the fourth industrial revolution (4IR) technologies. Therefore, there is a need to explore 4IR predicting tools such as machine learning and consider integrated approaches that are pivotal to developing robust prediction systems for infectious diseases, especially in Africa. This review paper provides a useful resource for researchers, practitioners, and research funding agencies interested in the research theme—the prediction of infectious diseases in Africa—by capturing the current research hotspots and trends.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paulina Phoobane
- Department of Information Technology, Central University of Technology, Free State, Private Bag X200539, Bloemfontein 9300, South Africa; (M.M.); (T.M.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Muthoni Masinde
- Department of Information Technology, Central University of Technology, Free State, Private Bag X200539, Bloemfontein 9300, South Africa; (M.M.); (T.M.)
| | - Tafadzwanashe Mabhaudhi
- Department of Information Technology, Central University of Technology, Free State, Private Bag X200539, Bloemfontein 9300, South Africa; (M.M.); (T.M.)
- Centre for Transformative Agricultural and Food Systems, School of Agricultural, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X01, Pietermaritzburg 3201, South Africa
- International Water Management Institute (IWMI-GH), West Africa Office, PMB CT 112 Cantonments, Accra GA015, Ghana
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Busse CE, Anderson EW, Endale T, Smith YR, Kaniecki M, Shannon C, August ET. Strengthening research capacity: a systematic review of manuscript writing and publishing interventions for researchers in low-income and middle-income countries. BMJ Glob Health 2022; 7:bmjgh-2021-008059. [PMID: 35165096 PMCID: PMC8845213 DOI: 10.1136/bmjgh-2021-008059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2021] [Accepted: 01/04/2022] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Health researchers from low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) are under-represented in the academic literature. Scientific writing and publishing interventions may help researchers publish their findings; however, we lack evidence about the prevalence and effectiveness of such interventions. This review describes interventions for researchers in LMICs aimed at strengthening capacity for writing and publishing academic journal articles. METHODS We followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines to report literature searches in PubMed, Embase, Global Health, Scopus and ERIC. Our keywords included LMICs, low-income and middle-income countries, health research and writing/publication support interventions, with no restrictions on publication date. Our screening process consisted of title screening, abstract review and full-text review. We collected information about the content, implementation and evaluation of each intervention, if included. RESULTS We identified 20 interventions designed to strengthen capacity for scientific writing and publishing. We summarised information from the 14 interventions that reported submitted or published papers as outcomes separately, reasoning that because they provide quantifiable metrics of success, they may offer particular insights into intervention components leading to publication. The writing and publishing components in this 'Publications Reported' group were an average length of 5.4 days compared with 2.5 days in the other group we refer to as 'Other Interventions.' Whereas all 14 Publications Reported interventions incorporated mentors, only two of five in the Other Interventions group incorporated mentors. Across interventions, leaders expressed the importance of a high ratio of mentors to participants, the need to accommodate time demands of busy researchers, and the necessity of a budget for open access fees and high-quality internet connectivity. CONCLUSION Writing and publishing interventions in LMICs are an underutilised opportunity for capacity strengthening. To facilitate the implementation of high-quality interventions, future writing and publishing interventions should share their experiences by publishing detailed information about the approach and effectiveness of the interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clara E Busse
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Elizabeth W Anderson
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Tamrat Endale
- Center for International Reproductive Health Training, Michigan Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Yolanda Regina Smith
- Center for International Reproductive Health Training, Michigan Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Michigan Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Marie Kaniecki
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Carol Shannon
- Taubman Health Sciences Library, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Ella T August
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
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Fatumo S, Chikowore T, Choudhury A, Ayub M, Martin AR, Kuchenbaecker K. A roadmap to increase diversity in genomic studies. Nat Med 2022; 28:243-250. [PMID: 35145307 PMCID: PMC7614889 DOI: 10.1038/s41591-021-01672-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 213] [Impact Index Per Article: 106.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2021] [Accepted: 12/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Two decades ago, the sequence of the first human genome was published. Since then, advances in genome technologies have resulted in whole-genome sequencing and microarray-based genotyping of millions of human genomes. However, genetic and genomic studies are predominantly based on populations of European ancestry. As a result, the potential benefits of genomic research-including better understanding of disease etiology, early detection and diagnosis, rational drug design and improved clinical care-may elude the many underrepresented populations. Here, we describe factors that have contributed to the imbalance in representation of different populations and, leveraging our experiences in setting up genomic studies in diverse global populations, we propose a roadmap to enhancing inclusion and ensuring equal health benefits of genomics advances. Our Perspective highlights the importance of sincere, concerted global efforts toward genomic equity to ensure the benefits of genomic medicine are accessible to all.
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Affiliation(s)
- Segun Fatumo
- The African Computational Genomics (TACG) Research Group, MRC/UVRI and LSHTM, Entebbe, Uganda.
- The Department of Non-communicable Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
| | - Tinashe Chikowore
- Sydney Brenner Institute for Molecular Bioscience, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
- MRC/Wits Developmental Pathways for Health Research Unit, Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Ananyo Choudhury
- Sydney Brenner Institute for Molecular Bioscience, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Muhammad Ayub
- Division of Psychiatry, University College London, London, UK
| | - Alicia R Martin
- Analytic and Translational Genetics Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Program in Medical and Population Genetics, Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Karoline Kuchenbaecker
- Division of Psychiatry, University College London, London, UK
- UCL Genetics Institute, University College London, London, UK
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Perryman A, Gebretekle GB, Ogunbameru A, Bielecki JM, Sander B. A Protocol for a Scoping Review Comparative Bibliometric Analysis of Infectious Disease Research in Africa. Front Public Health 2022; 9:802428. [PMID: 35047476 PMCID: PMC8761662 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2021.802428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2021] [Accepted: 11/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Evidence on authorship trends of health research conducted about or in Africa shows that there is a lack of local researchers in the first and last authorship positions, with high income country collaborations taking up these positions. The differences in authorship calls into question power imbalances in global health research and who benefits from the production of new discoveries and innovations. Health studies may further go on to inform policy and clinical practice within the region having an impact on public health. This paper aims to compare the differences in authorship between COVID-19 and relevant infectious diseases in Africa. Materials and Methods: We will conduct a bibliometric analysis comparing authorship for COVID-19 research during a public health emergency with authorship for four other infectious diseases of relevance to Africa namely: Ebola, Zika Virus (ZIKV), Tuberculosis (TB) and Influenza. Our scoping review will follow the framework developed by Arksey and O'Malley and reviewed by Levac et al. We will search MEDLINE (Ovid), African Index Medicus (AIM), Eastern Mediterranean Region (IMEMR) Index Medicus, Embase (Ovid), and Web of Science (Clarivate). We will compare the different trends of disease research between the selected diseases. This study is registered with OSF registries and is licensed with the Academic Free License version 3.0. The open science registration number is 10.17605/OSF.IO/5ZPGN.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrianna Perryman
- School of Global Health, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Toronto Health Economics and Technology Assessment (THETA) Collaborative, Toronto General Hospital Research Institute (TGHRI), University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada.,University Health Network (UHN), Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Gebremedhin Beedemariam Gebretekle
- Toronto Health Economics and Technology Assessment (THETA) Collaborative, Toronto General Hospital Research Institute (TGHRI), University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation (IHPME), University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Adeteju Ogunbameru
- Toronto Health Economics and Technology Assessment (THETA) Collaborative, Toronto General Hospital Research Institute (TGHRI), University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation (IHPME), University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Joanna M Bielecki
- Toronto Health Economics and Technology Assessment (THETA) Collaborative, Toronto General Hospital Research Institute (TGHRI), University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada.,University Health Network (UHN), Toronto, ON, Canada.,Program for Health System and Technology Evaluation, Toronto General Hospital Research Institute (TGHRI), University Health Network (UHN), Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Beate Sander
- Toronto Health Economics and Technology Assessment (THETA) Collaborative, Toronto General Hospital Research Institute (TGHRI), University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada.,University Health Network (UHN), Toronto, ON, Canada.,Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation (IHPME), University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Program for Health System and Technology Evaluation, Toronto General Hospital Research Institute (TGHRI), University Health Network (UHN), Toronto, ON, Canada.,Public Health Ontario, Toronto, ON, Canada.,ICES, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Population Health Economics Research (PHER) Program, Toronto, ON, Canada
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Osei SA, Biney RP, Anning AS, Nortey LN, Ghartey-Kwansah G. Low incidence of COVID-19 case severity and mortality in Africa; Could malaria co-infection provide the missing link? BMC Infect Dis 2022; 22:78. [PMID: 35065613 PMCID: PMC8783581 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-022-07064-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2021] [Accepted: 01/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Despite reports of malaria and coronavirus diseases 2019 (COVID-19) co-infection, malaria-endemic regions have so far recorded fewer cases of COVID-19 and deaths from COVID-19, indicating a probable protection from the poor outcome of COVID-19 by malaria. On the contrary, other evidence suggests that malaria might contribute to the death caused by COVID-19. Hence, this paper reviewed existing evidence hypothesizing poor outcome or protection of COVID-19 patients when co-infected with malaria. Methods PRISMA guidelines for systematic review were employed in this study. Published articles from December 2019 to May 2021on COVID-19 and malaria co-infection and outcome were systematically searched in relevant and accessible databases following a pre-defined strategy. Studies involving human, in vivo animal studies, and in vitro studies were included. Results Twenty three (23) studies were included in the review out of the 3866 records identified in the selected scientific databases. Nine (9) papers reported on co-infection of COVID-19 and malaria. Five (5) papers provided information about synergism of malaria and COVID-19 poor prognosis, 2 papers reported on syndemic of COVID-19 and malaria intervention, and 7 studies indicated that malaria protects individuals from COVID-19. Conclusions Low incidence of COVID-19 in malaria-endemic regions supports the hypothesis that COVID-19 poor prognosis is prevented by malaria. Although further studies are required to ascertain this hypothesis, cross-immunity and common immunodominant isotopes provide strong evidence to support this hypothesis. Also, increase in co-inhibitory receptors and atypical memory B cells indicate synergy between COVID-19 and malaria outcome, though, more studies are required to make a definite conclusion. Low incidence and mortality rate of COVID-19 in malaria endemic regions There have been reports of malaria and COVID-19 co-infection Malaria could be the link for the reported low incidence of COVID-19 in Africa Cross immunity and common immunodominant epitopes between Malaria and COVID-19, and antimalaria drugs could be the reason for observed low fatality and incidence rate of COVID-19 in malaria endemic regions. Malaria infection and deaths could increase amid the COVID-19 pandemic due to interrupted malaria control interventions.
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Tonen-Wolyec S, Mbumba Lupaka DM, Batina-Agasa S, Mbopi Keou FX, Bélec L. Review of authorship for COVID-19 research conducted during the 2020 first-wave epidemic in Africa reveals emergence of promising African biomedical research and persisting asymmetry of international collaborations. Trop Med Int Health 2022; 27:137-148. [PMID: 34984771 DOI: 10.1111/tmi.13717] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The contribution of African authors to the biomedical literature is small. We evaluated the African and non-African scientific production published in the international literature on the COVID-19 in Africa during the first year of the epidemic (2020). METHODS Papers on COVID-19 in Africa were extracted from the Medline (PubMed) database for bibliometric analysis including the proportions of three leading and last authors by study type, study country, authors' and laboratories/institutions' countries of affiliation and journal ranking. RESULTS A total of 160 articles fulfilling the inclusion criteria were analysed. The majority (91.3%) was produced by half (53.7%) of African countries, with important regional disparities, and generally without sources of funding mentioned. The majority (>85.0) of authors in lead positions (first, second, third and last authors) were Africans. Only a small number (8.7%) of studies on COVID-19 in Africa were carried out by laboratories not on the African continent (mainly Europe, USA and China) and generally received funding. The last and first authors were more frequently of non-African origin in journals with an Impact Factor ranking ≥1, and more frequently of African origin in journals with a lower ranking (< 1). The first and last non-African authors tended to report their studies in high ranking ≥1 journals. CONCLUSIONS Our study demonstrates that the emergence of promising African research capable of publishing in indexed but low-impact factor medical journals and reveals the persistence of a North-South asymmetry in international cooperation in biomedical research with Africa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Serge Tonen-Wolyec
- Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Kisangani, Kisangani, Democratic Republic of the Congo.,Ecole Doctorale Régionale D'Afrique Centrale en Infectiologie Tropicale, Franceville, Gabon
| | - Dieu-Merci Mbumba Lupaka
- Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Kisangani, Kisangani, Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | - Salomon Batina-Agasa
- Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Kisangani, Kisangani, Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | - François-Xavier Mbopi Keou
- Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroon.,The Institute for the Development of Africa (The-IDA), Yaoundé, Cameroon
| | - Laurent Bélec
- Laboratory of virology, Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou, University of Paris, Paris, France
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Modlin CE, Deng Q, Benkeser D, Mulate YW, Aseffa A, Waller L, Powell KR, Kempker RR. Authorship trends in infectious diseases society of America affiliated journal articles conducted in low-income countries, 1998-2018. PLOS GLOBAL PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 2:e0000275. [PMID: 36962330 PMCID: PMC10021251 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0000275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2021] [Accepted: 05/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
An increasing amount of infectious diseases research is conducted in low-income countries (LIC) given their high burden of disease; however, the contribution of LIC investigators as measured by authorship metrics, specifically to infectious diseases research, has not been thoroughly studied. We performed a literature search for primary research conducted either within LICs or using samples from LIC participants published between 1998-2017 in the Infectious Disease Society of America-affiliated journals Clinical Infectious Diseases, Journal of Infectious Diseases, and Open Forum Infectious Diseases. Primary outcomes included proportion of LIC-affiliated first and last authors (i.e. lead authors) per year and authorship trends over time. Secondary outcomes included proportion of LIC-affiliated authorship by geographic distribution and disease focus. Among 1308 publications identified, 50% had either a first or last LIC-affiliated author. Among these authors, 48% of LIC-affiliated first authors and 52% of LIC-affiliated last authors also reported a non-LIC institutional affiliation. While the absolute number of articles by LIC-affiliated lead authors increased over the 20-year period, the proportion of articles with LIC-affiliated lead authors decreased. There is a growing literature for infectious disease research conducted in LICs yet authorship trends in a small subset of these publications demonstrate a pronounced and worsening exclusion of LIC-affiliated investigators from publishing as lead authors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chelsea E Modlin
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Qiao Deng
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - David Benkeser
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | | | - Abraham Aseffa
- Armauer Hansen Research Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Lance Waller
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Kimberly R Powell
- Emory University Woodruff Health Sciences Center Library, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Russell R Kempker
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
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Banerjee A. Emancipation of our medical researchers: Long overdue. MEDICAL JOURNAL OF DR. D.Y. PATIL VIDYAPEETH 2022. [DOI: 10.4103/mjdrdypu.mjdrdypu_766_21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
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Nyagabona SK, Mushi BP, Selekwa M, Philipo GS, Haddadi S, Kadhim EF, Breithaupt L, Maongezi S, Mwaiselage J, Balandya E, Leyna GH, Van Loon K, Mmbaga EJ. A mixed methods needs assessment and gap analysis for establishment of a cancer research training program in East Africa. JOURNAL OF GLOBAL HEALTH REPORTS 2021; 5. [PMID: 34722937 PMCID: PMC8553223 DOI: 10.29392/001c.22120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including cancer, in Africa is rising. Policymakers are charged with formulating evidence-based cancer control plans; however, there is a paucity of data on cancers generated from within Africa. As part of efforts to enhance cancer research training in East Africa, we performed a needs assessment and gap analysis of cancer-related research training resources in Tanzania. Methods A mixed-methods study to evaluate existing individual, institutional, and national resources supporting cancer research training in Tanzania was conducted. Qualitative data were collected using in-depth interviews while quantitative data were collected using self-administered questionnaires and online surveys. The study also included a desk-review of policy and guidelines related to NCD research and training. Study participants were selected to represent five groups: (i) policymakers; (ii) established researchers; (iii) research support personnel; (iv) faculty members in degree training programs; and (v) post-graduate trainees. Results Our results identified challenges in four thematic areas. First, there is a need for coordination and monitoring of the cancer research agenda at the national level. Second, both faculty and trainees identified the need for incorporation of rigorous training to improve research competencies. Third, sustained mentoring and institutional investment in development of mentorship resources is critical to empowering early career investigators. Finally, academic institutions can enhance research outputs by providing adequate research infrastructure, prioritizing protected time for research, and recognizing research accomplishments by trainees and faculty. Conclusions As we look towards establishment of cancer research training programs in East Africa, investment in the development of rigorous research training, mentorship resources, and research infrastructure will be critical to empowering local health professionals to engage in cancer research activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Kutika Nyagabona
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Beatrice Paul Mushi
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Musiba Selekwa
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Godfrey Sama Philipo
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Sumaiya Haddadi
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Emilie Fatima Kadhim
- Global Cancer Program, UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Lindsay Breithaupt
- Global Cancer Program, UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Sarah Maongezi
- Non-Communicable Diseases Program, United Republic of Tanzania Ministry of Health, Community Development, Gender, Elderly and Children, Dodoma, Tanzania
| | - Julius Mwaiselage
- Administrative services, Ocean Road Cancer Institute, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Emmanuel Balandya
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Germana Henry Leyna
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Katherine Van Loon
- Global Cancer Program, UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Elia John Mmbaga
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Department of Community Medicine and Global Health, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
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Ravi K, Bentounsi Z, Tariq A, Brazeal A, Daudu D, Back F, Elhadi M, Badwi N, Shah SSNH, Bandyopadhyay S, Khalil H, Kimura H, Sekyi-Djan MN, Abdelrahman A, Shaheen A, Mbonda Noula AG, Wong AT, Ndajiwo A, Souadka A, Maina AN, Nyalundja AD, Sabry A, Hind B, Nteranya DS, Ngugi DW, de Wet E, Tolis EA, Wafqui FZ, Essangri H, Moujtahid H, Moola H, Narain K, Ravi K, Wassim K, Odiero LA, Nyaboke LS, Metwalli M, Naisiae M, Pueschel MG, Turabi N, El Aroussi N, Makram OM, Shawky OA, Outani O, Carides P, Patil P, Halley-Stott RP, Kurbegovic S, Marchant S, Moujtahid S, El Hadrati S, Agarwal T, Kidavasi VA, Agarwal V, Steyn W, Matumo W, Fahmy YA, Omar Z, Amod Z, Eloff M, Hussein NA, Sharma D. Systematic analysis of authorship demographics in global surgery. BMJ Glob Health 2021; 6:bmjgh-2021-006672. [PMID: 34666988 PMCID: PMC8527109 DOI: 10.1136/bmjgh-2021-006672] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2021] [Accepted: 09/09/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Global surgery has recently gained prominence as an academic discipline within global health. Authorship inequity has been a consistent feature of global health publications, with over-representation of authors from high-income countries (HICs), and disenfranchisement of researchers from low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). In this study, we investigated authorship demographics within recently published global surgery literature. Methods We performed a systematic analysis of author characteristics, including gender, seniority and institutional affiliation, for global surgery studies published between 2016 and 2020 and indexed in the PubMed database. We compared the distribution of author gender and seniority across studies related to different topics; between authors affiliated with HICs and LMICs; and across studies with different authorship networks. Results 1240 articles were included for analysis. Most authors were male (60%), affiliated only with HICs (51%) and of high seniority (55% were fully qualified specialist or generalist clinicians, Principal Investigators, or in senior leadership or management roles). The proportion of male authors increased with increasing seniority for last and middle authors. Studies related to Obstetrics and Gynaecology had similar numbers of male and female authors, whereas there were more male authors in studies related to surgery (69% male) and Anaesthesia and Critical care (65% male). Compared with HIC authors, LMIC authors had a lower proportion of female authors at every seniority grade. This gender gap among LMIC middle authors was reduced in studies where all authors were affiliated only with LMICs. Conclusion Authorship disparities are evident within global surgery academia. Remedial actions to address the lack of authorship opportunities for LMIC authors and female authors are required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krithi Ravi
- University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton, UK
| | - Zineb Bentounsi
- University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton, UK
| | - Aiman Tariq
- National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Karachi, Pakistan
| | | | - Davina Daudu
- The University of Western Australia Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Francesca Back
- University of Oxford Medical Sciences Division, Oxford, UK
| | | | - Nermin Badwi
- Zagazig University Faculty of Human Medicine, Zagazig, Egypt.,InciSioN Egypt, Zagazig, Egypt
| | | | | | - Halimah Khalil
- Birmingham Medical School, University of Birmingham College of Medical and Dental Sciences, Birmingham, UK
| | | | | | | | - Ahmed Shaheen
- Alexandria University Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria, Egypt
| | | | - Ai-Ting Wong
- Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital, Rondebosch, South Africa
| | | | - Amine Souadka
- National Institute of Oncology, Mohammed V University of Rabat, Rabat, Morocco
| | | | | | | | - Bourja Hind
- Ibn Rochd University Hospital Center, Casablanca, Morocco
| | - Daniel Safari Nteranya
- Department of Surgery, Official University of Bukavu, Bukavu, Congo.,Association of Future African Neurosurgeons, Yaoundé, Cameroon
| | | | - Elsa de Wet
- University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa
| | | | - F Z Wafqui
- Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Casablanca, Morocco
| | - Hajar Essangri
- National Institute of Oncology, Mohammed V University of Rabat, Rabat, Morocco
| | - Hajar Moujtahid
- Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Mohammed V University of Rabat, Rabat, Morocco
| | - Husna Moola
- University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, South Africa
| | - Kapil Narain
- University of KwaZulu-Natal Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine, Durban, South Africa
| | - Krupa Ravi
- University of Oxford Medical Sciences Division, Oxford, UK
| | - Kyrillos Wassim
- Cairo University Kasr Alainy Faculty of Medicine, Cairo, Egypt
| | | | | | | | - Maryanne Naisiae
- University of Nairobi College of Health Sciences, Nairobi, Kenya
| | | | - Nafisa Turabi
- Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Medical College and Hospital, Jabalpur, India
| | - Nouhaila El Aroussi
- Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Mohammed V University of Rabat, Rabat, Morocco
| | - Omar Mohamed Makram
- Department of Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine, October 6 University, 6th of October City, Egypt.,London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine Faculty of Public Health and Policy, London, UK
| | - Omar A Shawky
- Cairo University Kasr Alainy Faculty of Medicine, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Oumaima Outani
- Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Mohammed V University of Rabat, Rabat, Morocco
| | - Peter Carides
- University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg-Braamfontein, South Africa
| | | | | | - Sabina Kurbegovic
- Medical Faculty, University of Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
| | | | - Sara Moujtahid
- Ibn Sina University Hospital Center, Rabat, Morocco.,Mohammed V University, Rabat, Morocco
| | - Soukaina El Hadrati
- Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Mohammed V University of Rabat, Rabat, Morocco
| | | | | | | | - Wilme Steyn
- Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital, Bertsham, South Africa
| | | | | | - Zaayid Omar
- Rondebosch Medical Centre, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Zachary Amod
- University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, South Africa
| | - Madelein Eloff
- University of KwaZulu-Natal Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine, Durban, South Africa
| | | | - Dhananjaya Sharma
- Department of Surgery, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Medical College and Hospital, Jabalpur, India
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47
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Rees CA, Ali M, Kisenge R, Ideh RC, Sirna SJ, Britto CD, Kazembe PN, Niescierenko M, Duggan CP, Manji KP. Where there is no local author: a network bibliometric analysis of authorship parasitism among research conducted in sub-Saharan Africa. BMJ Glob Health 2021; 6:e006982. [PMID: 34706882 PMCID: PMC8552133 DOI: 10.1136/bmjgh-2021-006982] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2021] [Accepted: 09/25/2021] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Authorship parasitism (ie, no authors affiliated with the country in which the study took place) occurs frequently in research conducted in low-income and middle-income countries, despite published recommendations defining authorship criteria. The objective was to compare characteristics of articles exhibiting authorship parasitism in sub-Saharan Africa to articles with author representation from sub-Saharan African countries. METHODS A bibliometric review of articles indexed in PubMed published from January 2014 through December 2018 reporting research conducted in sub-Saharan Africa was performed. Author affiliations were assigned to countries based on regular expression algorithms. Choropleth maps and network diagrams were created to determine where authorship parasitism occurred, and multivariable logistic regression was used to determine associated factors. RESULTS Of 32 061 articles, 14.8% (n=4754) demonstrated authorship parasitism, which was most common among studies from Somalia (n=175/233, 75.1%) and Sao Tome and Principe (n=20/28, 71.4%). Authors affiliated with USA and UK institutions were most commonly involved in articles exhibiting authorship parasitism. Authorship parasitism was more common in articles: published in North American journals (adjusted OR (aOR) 1.26, 95% CI 1.07 to 1.50) than in sub-Saharan African journals, reporting work from multiple sub-Saharan African countries (aOR 8.41, 95% CI 7.30 to 9.68) compared with work from upper-middle income sub-Saharan African countries, with <5 authors (aOR 14.46, 95% CI 12.81 to 16.35) than >10 authors, and was less common in articles published in French (aOR 0.60, 95% CI 0.41 to 0.85) than English. CONCLUSIONS Authorship parasitism was common in articles reporting research conducted in sub-Saharan Africa. There were reliable predictors of authorship parasitism. Investigators and institutions in high-income countries, as well as funding agencies and journals should promote research from sub-Saharan Africa, including its publication, in a collaborative and equitable manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chris A Rees
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
- Division of Emergency Medicine, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Mohsin Ali
- Divison of Infectious Diseases, Department of Paediatrics, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Rodrick Kisenge
- Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Readon C Ideh
- Department of Pediatrics, John F. Kennedy Medical Center, Monrovia, Liberia
| | - Stephanie J Sirna
- Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | - Carl D Britto
- Boston Combined Residency Program, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | | | - Michelle Niescierenko
- Division of Emergency Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Pediatrics and Emergency Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Christopher P Duggan
- Center for Nutrition, Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Departments of Nutrition and Global Health and Population, Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Karim P Manji
- Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
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48
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Okeke IN. Twenty steps to ingrain power asymmetry in global health biomedical research. PLoS Biol 2021; 19:e3001411. [PMID: 34591836 PMCID: PMC8483766 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3001411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Health research in low‐income settings must prioritize sustainability in order to truly impact target diseases in the long term; this Perspective article satirically summarizes how biomedical investigators from high-income countries can collaboratively work to (not) accomplish this.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iruka N. Okeke
- Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria
- * E-mail:
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49
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Herrick C, Okpako O, Millington JDA. Unequal ecosystems of global health authorial expertise: Decolonising noncommunicable disease. Health Place 2021; 71:102670. [PMID: 34543840 DOI: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2021.102670] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2021] [Revised: 08/24/2021] [Accepted: 09/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The decolonisation agenda is gathering momentum in global health. Within this movement, one domain of analysis has been the ways in which the geographies of scholarly knowledge production (re)produce the inequities of coloniality. Drawing on the example of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), here we deviate from this and instead examine the authorship of the key global documents that were used to ignite and mobilise the NCD advocacy agenda from 2000 to 2020. In doing so, we reflect on the changing ecosystems of authorial expertise. It shows that while the geographic distribution of expertise has broadened over time, the NCD domain remains a fairly tight and circumscribed network. Importantly this research also shows the complexities of ascribing location to expertise, a finding that speaks back to the decolonisation debate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clare Herrick
- Department of Geography King's College London, Bush House NE Wing 6.07, London, WC2R 2LS, UK.
| | - Oritsematosan Okpako
- London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London, WC1E 7HT, UK.
| | - James D A Millington
- Department of Geography King's College London, Bush House NE Wing 6.07, London, WC2R 2LS, UK
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50
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Miles S, Renedo A, Marston C. Reimagining authorship guidelines to promote equity in co-produced academic collaborations. Glob Public Health 2021; 17:2547-2559. [PMID: 34520317 DOI: 10.1080/17441692.2021.1971277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Authorship of academic papers is a currency that can bring career advantages in academia and other industries. How authorship should be decided is not always clear, particularly in co-produced research with non-academic collaborators, for which existing authorship guidelines are largely silent. In this paper, we critically reflect on what constitutes written authorship in the context of co-produced health research. We present examples from our own work to illustrate the argument we make, including publishing a co-authored paper with non-academic partners. We consider questions of what constitutes authorship and how it is mutually understood. We discuss some of the opportunities and limits to participation and how these might translate into academic authorship as a collaborative research output. Finally, we explore the potential of authorship guidelines as a resource for critical reflection on what we mean by co-produced work and how we recognise contributions to global health research. We suggest that authorship guidelines should be adapted to encourage attribution of co-produced research to include non-academic as well as academic collaborators, and we provide a draft guideline for how this might be done.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sam Miles
- Faculty of Public Health and Policy, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Alicia Renedo
- Faculty of Public Health and Policy, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Cicely Marston
- Faculty of Public Health and Policy, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
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