Leicester School of Allied Health Sciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, De Montfort University, The Gateway, Leicester LE1 9BH, UK.
Department of Public Health, Microbiology and Immunology, Ernest Bai Koroma University of Science and Technology, Makeni, Sierra Leone.
Int Health. 2020 Nov 9;12(6):509-514. doi: 10.1093/inthealth/ihaa065.
Much of the focus of public health research post-Ebola in Sierra Leone has been on rebuilding the healthcare system. However, very little attention has focused on capacity building in knowledge necessary for (bio)medical research, specifically around emerging opportunistic human pathogens that contribute to the high morbidity and mortality rates in Sierra Leone. In collaboration with academic staff from the University of Makeni, we engaged in a small-scale pilot intervention to strengthen medical parasitology teaching and research. The cultural competencies and ethical expertise provided by Sierra Leonean academics was critical to work in local communities and ensuring consent to undertake research. Yet, at the end of a day of collecting samples, in small pieces of conversation, the staff also explained ethical constraints they experienced taking part in research collaborations. They illustrate that, while on the surface all may seem well with a project, there can be harmful effects in terms of accessibility, ownership, cultural responsiveness and accountability, which should be taken into consideration when establishing networks and collaborations with universities from low-income countries.
塞拉利昂埃博拉疫情后的公共卫生研究主要集中在重建医疗体系上。然而，很少有人关注（生物）医学研究所需知识的能力建设，特别是围绕导致塞拉利昂高发病率和死亡率的新兴机会性病原体。我们与马克尼大学的学术人员合作，开展了一项小规模试点干预措施，以加强医学寄生虫学教学和研究。塞拉利昂学者提供的文化能力和伦理专业知识对于在当地社区开展工作和确保同意进行研究至关重要。然而，在一天的样本采集结束时，通过一些简短的对话，工作人员还解释了他们在参与研究合作时遇到的伦理限制。他们举例说明，尽管表面上一切似乎都很好，但在可及性、所有权、文化响应能力和问责制方面可能会产生有害影响，在与来自低收入国家的大学建立网络和合作时，应该考虑到这些因素。
