Research for Health Justice Framework

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Why is the framework needed?

As a matter of health and social justice, global health research should generate new knowledge to improve the health and well-being of those considered disadvantaged and marginalised, foster their participation in decision-making about its conduct, and build research capacity in low and middle-income countries (LMICs). It should contribute to reducing health disparities between and within countries. Global health research is defined as research focused on health problems typically (but not exclusively) experienced in low and low and middle-income countries. It encompasses research with groups considered marginalised or vulnerable in high-income countries as well as research in LMICs.

Yet simply undertaking global health research will not necessarily generate the knowledge needed to help improve health care and systems for those considered disadvantaged and marginalised. Global health research grants programs and projects must be structured in a particular way to generate that type of information. But how exactly should they be designed to do so?

What is the purpose of the framework?

The aim of this ethical framework is to guide funders in their design of grants programs so that they are better structured to incentivize and support global health research that promotes global health equity. It also aims to guide researchers in their design of global health research projects so that they are better structured to generate new knowledge to promote global health equity. The Research for Health Justice framework provides funders and researchers with guidance on what features of grant programs (selection criteria, requirements, budget support) and research projects to include in relation to:

a. Research populations

b. Research topics and questions

c. Research capacity development

d. Ancillary care

e. Knowledge translation

The Research for Health Justice framework consists of two guidance documents, one for funders and one for researchers.

Who should use the framework and how?

The Research for Health Justice Framework provides a guidance for individual reflection and for collaborative research team discussions and decision-making. It is to be used by those responsible for designing global health research projects and grants programs. The central questions to ask when reading through the framework’s guidance individually or collectively are: how well does the grant program or research project we’re developing align with its guidance and, if there are areas of weakness, is it possible to strengthen that alignment?

Research for Health Justice Framework

Guidance document for researchers

Guidance document for funders

 

Key Publications

  1. Pratt, B. (2021). “Research for health justice’: An ethical framework linking global health research to health equity.” BMJ Global Health 6: e002921.

  2. Pratt, B. & Hyder, A.A. (2018). “Ethical responsibilities of research funders to advance global health justice.” Global Public Health, doi.org/10.1080/17441692.2018.1471148

  3. Pratt, B. & Hyder, A.A. (2018). “Designing research funding schemes to promote global health equity: An exploration of current practice in health systems research.” Developing World Bioethics, 18(2): 76-90.

  4.  Pratt, B. & Hyder, A.A. (2017). “Linking the governance of research consortia to global health justice: A case study of Future Health Systems.” Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics 45: 664-681.

  5. Pratt, B. & Hyder, A.A. (2017). “Linking Participatory Action Research on Health Systems to Justice in Global Health: A Case Study of the Maternal and Neonatal Implementation for Equitable Health Systems Project in Rural Uganda.” Journal of Empirical Research on Human Research Ethics, doi.org/10.1177/155626461774102

  6. Pratt, B. & Hyder, A.A. (2017). “Governance of global health research consortia: Sharing sovereignty and resources within Future Health Systems.” Social Science and Medicine 174: 113–121.

  7. Pratt, B. & Hyder, A.A. (2016). “How can health systems research reach the worst-off? A conceptual exploration.” BMC Health Services Research 16(Suppl 7): 619.

  8. Pratt, B. & Hyder, A.A. (2016) “Governance of transnational global health research consortia and health equity.” American Journal of Bioethics 16(10): 29-45.

  9. Pratt, B., Allen, K.A. & Hyder, A.A. (2016). “Health systems research consortia and the promotion of health equity in low and middle-income countries.” Developing World Bioethics 16(3): 148-157

  10. Pratt, B., Allen, K.A. & Hyder, A.A. (2015). “Promoting equity through health systems research in low and middle-income countries: Practices of researchers.” AJOB Empirical Bioethics 7(3): 199-208

  11. Pratt, B. & Hyder, A.A. (2015). “Global justice and health systems research in low and middle-income countries.” Journal of Law, Medicine, & Ethics 43(1): 143-161.

  12. Pratt, B., Zion, D., Lwin, K.M., Cheah, P.Y., Nosten, F., & Loff. B. (2014). “Linking international clinical research with stateless populations to justice in global health.” BMC Medical Ethics 15: 49

  13. Pratt, B. & Loff, B. (2014). “A framework to link international clinical research to the promotion of justice in global health.” Bioethics, 28(8): 387-96

  14. Pratt, B., Zion, D., Lwin, K.M., Cheah, P.Y., Nosten, F., & Loff. B. (2013). “Ancillary care: Theory and practice in international clinical research.” Public Health Ethics, 6(2): 154-169

  15. Pratt, B., Zion, D., & Loff, B. (2012). “Evaluating the capacity of theories of justice to serve as a justice framework for international clinical research.” American Journal of Bioethics 12(11): 30-41.