Health research in the tropics

Abstract

In response to Ivan Wolffers and colleagues' (May 30, p 1652)1Wolffers I Adjei S van der Drift R Health research in the tropics.Lancet. 1998; 351: 1652-1654Summary Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (46) Google Scholar discussion of tropical medicine in the South, we wish to report on the work of the Abidjan Health Project (Project Santé Abidjan, PSA) in Côte d'Ivoire. The PSA aims to improve the supply of health care in Abidjan both qualitatively and quantitatively. From the time of its conception, the PSA has included a research and development component that supports the implementation of the different elements of the project. In the past 5 years, 26 research projects have been completed in various disciplines (epidemiology, socioanthropology, health economics, health sciences), not only in tropical medicine.The definition of priorities within the framework of the PSA focuses on the orientations specified in the National Health Plan (Plan National de Développement Sanitaire) in collaboration with national partners. The research projects are executed by national research institutions, according to terms of reference defined by the project. These research institutions frequently use local researchers, and occasionally young French researchers working on a masters or doctoral thesis. The remuneration of researchers is contractual and is fixed in relation to experience acquired and employment status. The amount is calculated according to government salaries and varies between US$400 per month for a junior level civil servant to US$1300 for an independent senior level private consultant. The fee scale is identical for local and expatriate researchers.The implementation of research results is a major goal and is facilitated by a way in which the research component is integrated into the project as a whole. An operating committee is convened whenever necessary to ensure that the results are used to improve the targeting of public-health initiatives. In most cases, the results are used at regional level, but sometimes they are used to elaborate national strategies. The results obtained since 1993 from our research have allowed the implementation of efficient interventions and have also yielded useful correctional elements for regional health policy.Research results are systematically disseminated during official presentations to regional, and national health decision-makers, and to bilateral and multilateral aid agencies. Research reports are also distributed. Publication in professional journals requires a large effort in the areas of conception and composition, but is one of the objectives of the PSA's research component. In response to Ivan Wolffers and colleagues' (May 30, p 1652)1Wolffers I Adjei S van der Drift R Health research in the tropics.Lancet. 1998; 351: 1652-1654Summary Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (46) Google Scholar discussion of tropical medicine in the South, we wish to report on the work of the Abidjan Health Project (Project Santé Abidjan, PSA) in Côte d'Ivoire. The PSA aims to improve the supply of health care in Abidjan both qualitatively and quantitatively. From the time of its conception, the PSA has included a research and development component that supports the implementation of the different elements of the project. In the past 5 years, 26 research projects have been completed in various disciplines (epidemiology, socioanthropology, health economics, health sciences), not only in tropical medicine. The definition of priorities within the framework of the PSA focuses on the orientations specified in the National Health Plan (Plan National de Développement Sanitaire) in collaboration with national partners. The research projects are executed by national research institutions, according to terms of reference defined by the project. These research institutions frequently use local researchers, and occasionally young French researchers working on a masters or doctoral thesis. The remuneration of researchers is contractual and is fixed in relation to experience acquired and employment status. The amount is calculated according to government salaries and varies between US$400 per month for a junior level civil servant to US$1300 for an independent senior level private consultant. The fee scale is identical for local and expatriate researchers. The implementation of research results is a major goal and is facilitated by a way in which the research component is integrated into the project as a whole. An operating committee is convened whenever necessary to ensure that the results are used to improve the targeting of public-health initiatives. In most cases, the results are used at regional level, but sometimes they are used to elaborate national strategies. The results obtained since 1993 from our research have allowed the implementation of efficient interventions and have also yielded useful correctional elements for regional health policy. Research results are systematically disseminated during official presentations to regional, and national health decision-makers, and to bilateral and multilateral aid agencies. Research reports are also distributed. Publication in professional journals requires a large effort in the areas of conception and composition, but is one of the objectives of the PSA's research component.