Closing the barrier between disease and health outcomes in Africa through research and capacity development

Abstract

Background: While the burden of disease in Africa is high, health research emanating from the continent is low. Building human capacity and research infrastructure to close the gap between research and disease is thus of great imporatance. Objective: In order to improve research outputs and postgraduate training in the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, the Health Sciences Research Office put in place a series of strategic initiatives over time. Methods: A range of strategic activities, for both postgraduate students and academic staff, were developed in parallel and sequentially over a period of approximately nine years (2008–2016). The latter years were a time of consolidation of the programmes. Outcomes of these activities were ‘measured’ by increases in publications, decreases in time to graduation and enrichment of the research environment. Results: A doubling of research publications and an increase in citations occurred over the period under review. In addition, there was a decrease in the time postgraduate students took to graduate. Conclusions: A varied, but structured research management plan may be of value in African and other developing health sciences institutions to enable the increase in research outputs and capacity development, desperately needed to close the barrier between disease and health.

Research among undergraduate biomedical students in Cameroon: contextual barriers, room for improvement

“…This high mortality rates have strongly been associated with poor health care systems and sub-optimal quality of health care delivery. The poor quality of health care delivery is powered by a lack of research evidence [2]. Evidence can only be gotten by conducting high-quality research and generating local data based on peculiar health problems that can be used to inform guidance [3, 4].…”

“…Lack of journals: the rare availability of institutional and national journals coupled with the financial obligations for publications by journals constitute research barriers. Furthermore, some international journals rarely accept manuscripts originating from lesser well-known authors [2].…”

Diaspora linkages benefit both sides: a single partnership experience

“…The necessity to improve research outputs and increase capacity development was recognized in the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, in Johannesburg, South Africa in early 2008. This culminated in the initiation of a number of important strategies [20] to build a rich scientific environment for the future. While a specific theory or model of capacity development was not identified [see 21], we ascribe to the World Health Organization definition of capacity development i.e.…”

A biostatistical support system in health sciences: is this sustainable in a resource-restricted environment?

“…While a Master’s programme in epidemiology and biostatistics was already in existence in the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand [18], a biostatistical support system for all postgraduate students and staff was initiated and operationalised by the Health Sciences Research Office (HSRO) of the Faculty of Health Sciences (FHS), University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) in 2008. Between 2008 and 2012, the system consisted of modules in biostatistics at entry and advanced level to postgraduate students, a module aimed specifically for supervisors, and one-on-one consultations for students and staff [19, 20]. This system resulted in an increased number of graduates and publications, although we expressed caution in linking these outcomes directly to the system.…”

“…The setting up of the initial system was carried out on a limited budget but would be affordable to institutions in a resource-restricted environment [19]. As the uptake of biostatistical and research methodology courses by staff and students increased from 2010 to 2012, so too did the number of graduates and publications, although other strategic initiatives may also have contributed to these increases [20]. An assessment of one-on-one consultations over the period 2008–2012 was also undertaken.…”