Of the US$73 billion spent globally every year on health research only about 10% is actually allocated for research into 90% of the world’s health problems. This is what is known as the 10/90 gap. This third landmark report of the Global Forum for Health Research underlines the crucial role that health and health research funding plays in breaking the cycle of poverty.
Monitoring equity and research policy
First aid: Lessons from health economics for economic evaluation in social welfare
Beyond health care, the economic evaluation of social welfare programmes is rare but the demand for such evaluation is rising. To encourage greater use of economic evaluation, undoubtedly social welfare researchers need to gain a better understanding of the philosophy behind such evaluation and the methodologies necessary to carry these out in practice.
QUALITATIVE RESEARCH FOR IMPROVED HEALTH PROGRAMS:
A Guide to Manuals for Qualitative and Participatory research on Child Health, Nutrition and Reproductive Health
Author(s): Winch, P.J.; Wagman, J.A; .Malouin, R.A.; Mehl, G.L.
This guide is designed for program managers, researchers, funders of health programs, and others who are considering using qualitative research methods to help them design more effective health programs and/or evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of existing programs. It is assumed that the reader already has some familiarity with the basic methods in the "qualitative research toolbox" such as in-depth interviews, focus groups, and participant observation. This guide describes some of the existing manuals for conducting qualitative research on health and provides information to help would-be users select the manuals that are most appropriate to their needs. This guide does not attempt to review the available qualitative research tools related to prevention and treatment of chronic and non-infectious diseases, including tobacco control, obesity prevention, or management of such diseases as diabetes or epilepsy.
Death, data and demographics: AIDS and adult mortality in Africa
Adult mortality is increasing in many parts of Africa. Is this due to AIDS? Can existing data answer this question? What other statistics are needed to document the spread of the AIDS epidemic in Africa? Research from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine examines the impact of HIV/AIDS on adult mortality in five African countries. It shows that increases in adult mortality correspond to high levels of HIV infection. However, there is a pressing need to collect more data on adult mortality in Africa, and to exploit more fully existing data sources.
AFRICAN CONFERENCE ON SOCIAL ASPECTS OF HIV/AIDS RESEARCH
1st ?4th September 2002; Johannesburg, South Africa
A Unique Opportunity For African Stakeholders to discuss emergent social aspects Of HIV/AIDS research at a meeting preceding the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD). 1st ?4th SEPTEMBER 2002; JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA. The Human Sciences Research Council of South Africa, is establishing SOCIAL ASPECTS OF HIV/AIDS RESEARCH ALLIANCE (SAHARA), an alliance of partners to conduct, support and use social sciences research to prevent further spread of HIV and mitigate the impact of its devastation on South Africa, SADC and other regions of Africa. The African Conference will be a vehicle to improve the effectiveness of the SAHARA and to integrate its activities more closely with those of other organizations and individuals active in HIV and AIDS control within SADC and the African continent, through sharing information on progress and experience on social aspects of HIV/AIDS research.
Further details: /newsletter/id/29156
Inputs from African Researchers and Health Professionals sought
The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) requests your assistance in identifying African researchers/professionals involved in grassroots/national/international health issues of Africans. CIHR is taking a lead, through a Global Health Research Initiative partnership, on the consultative process leading up to the G8 meeting in June where the approval of the Africa Action Plan will take place. This Plan will define how G8 member countries will meet the objectives of the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD). CIHR seek to inform the G8 process by providing a recommendation and supporting background paper on how increased investment in health research contributes to improved health and economic development in Africa. The partners and the Coalition are seeking additional input through consultative processes that are designed to coordinate the views of the developing country researcher community, and invite the views of international and national research organizations with shared interest in global health research. Interested participants could provide input through the website of the Coalition for Global Health Research.
Further details: /newsletter/id/29178
Rating the Strength of Scientific Research Findings
The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) Report No.47, 2002 AHRQ's Evidence-based Practice Center at Research Triangle Institute/University of North Carolina.
The report identifies and compares systems that rate the quality of evidence in individual research studies and compilations of studies addressing a common scientific issue. The report also provides guidance on the leading approaches currently in use for improving the quality of scientific evidence. Using well-specified criteria, the researchers identified 19 study-quality and 7 strength-of-evidence grading systems that people conducting systematic reviews and technology assessments can use as starting points for future evidence-based research projects.
Further details: /newsletter/id/29174
WHO LAUNCHES THE FIRST GLOBAL STRATEGY ON TRADITIONAL AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE
WHO, Geneva, May, 2002
The World Health Organization (WHO) released on May 16,2002 a global plan to address those issues. The strategy provides a framework for policy to assist countries to regulate traditional or complementary/alternative medicine (TM/CAM) to make its use safer, more accessible to their populations and sustainable. "Traditional Medicine: Growing Needs and Potential" is the core of the WHO Strategy for Traditional Medicine for 2002-2005. It provides brief information on the growing needs and challenges faced by traditional medicine worldwide. It also gives key messages and a checklist for the safety, efficacy and quality to policy-makers. It sets out WHO's role and how the WHO Strategy could meet the challenges to support WHO Member States in the proper use of traditional and complementary/alternative medicine.
Further details: /newsletter/id/29162
HIV in South Africa: from research to policy
"As scientists and clinicians, we share a deep commitment to our patients and the public health of our nation. We have conducted and/or supported research aimed at decreasing vertical transmission. We remain fully committed to the implementation, within the broader government programme for AIDS prevention and care, of a national programme against vertical transmission, and to do further research in support of this goal. There is strong evidence in support of the use of antiretrovirals to reduce vertical transmission. The challenge remains in translating these research findings into policy and practice in South Africa."
Demanding Innovation:
articulating policies for demand-led research and research capacity building in the South
This website has supported the high-level international seminar ‘Demanding Innovation: articulating policies for demand-led research and research capacity building in the South’ .
Under the Main Menu you will find basic information on the workshop, such as the programme, the names of the participants, keynote speeches, proceedings and background documents.