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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Mary T. White, PhD, Department of Community Health, Wright State University, P.O. Box 927, Dayton, OH 45401-0927, 937-775-3167, mary.t.white@wright.edu

Based on observations made while in residence at a medical school in Mbarara, Uganda, this presentation examines how perceptions of international health research and researchers by host country personnel impacts ethical conduct of research. 1. The majority of health research conducted in developing countries is currently financed externally. Funders have incentives and goals that may not correspond to the needs of the host countries. In Uganda, most externally funded research focuses on HIV/AIDS, neglecting other major health risks. 2. Ugandans are aware they are perceived as poor and vulnerable. Consequently, perceptions of researchers may contain elements of hope, gratitude, opportunism, suspicion, and resentment, which may influence the ability of researchers to collaborate effectively with host country research staff and participants. 3. Research review is governed largely by the Helsinki Declaration and CIOMS Guidelines. Little in these requirements acknowledges socioeconomic and cultural differences between sponsoring and host countries. Participants may misunderstand mechanisms of disease, basic research terminology, and the purpose of participation. They may believe research will be beneficial or fear they may be punished if they refuse to participate. Translators may modify the informed consent process to be culturally coherent. 4. Retaining qualified staff to conduct research in host countries encourages external researchers to offer competitive salaries, which draws health care personnel away from patient care. Conclusion: Awareness of how social and economic factors, cultural values, and historical context can impact perceptions of researchers and their work are necessary if international research is to be conducted ethically and responsibly.

Learning Objectives:

• Participants will be introduced to some of the cultural and contextual issues that impact perceptions of health care research in Uganda.
• Participants will be encouraged to think broadly about what counts as an ethical issue in international research.
• Participants will be invited to explore additional ethical frameworks that might help address ongoing ethical challenges in international health research.

Keywords: Research Ethics, Cultural Competency

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered