Improving mental and neurological health research in Latin America: a qualitative study

Fabián Fiestas,Giovanni Poletti,Sylvie Olifson,Inés Bustamante,Guido Mazzotti,Renato D Alarcón,Jair J Mari,Denise Razzouk,Carla Gallo

doi:10.1186/1471-2458-9-334

Abstract

BackgroundResearch evidence is essential to inform policies, interventions and programs, and yet research activities in mental and neurological (MN) health have been largely neglected, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Many challenges have been identified in the production and utilization of research evidence in Latin American countries, and more work is needed to overcome this disadvantageous situation. This study aims to address the situation by identifying initiatives that could improve MN health research activities and implementation of their results in the Latin American region.MethodsThirty-four MN health actors from 13 Latin American countries were interviewed as part of an initiative by the Global Forum for Health Research and the World Health Organization to explore the status of MN health research in low- and middle-income countries in Africa, Asia and Latin-America.ResultsA variety of recommendations to increase MN health research activities and implementation of their results emerged in the interviews. These included increasing skilled human resources in MN health interventions and research, fostering greater participation of stakeholders in the generation of research topics and projects, and engendering the interest of national and international institutions in important MN health issues and research methodologies. In the view of most participants, government agencies should strive to have research results inform the decision-making process in which they are involved. Thus these agencies would play a key role in facilitating and funding research. Participants also pointed to the importance of academic recognition and financial rewards in attracting professionals to primary and translational research in MN health. In addition, they suggested that institutions should create intramural resources to provide researchers with technical support in designing, carrying out and disseminating research, including resources to improve scientific writing skills.ConclusionFulfillment of these recommendations would increase research production in MN health in Latin American countries. This, in turn, will raise the profile of these health problems, and consequently will underscore the need of continued high-quality and relevant research, thus fostering a virtuous cycle in the decision-making process to improve MN health care.

Highlights

Research evidence is essential to inform policies, interventions and programs, and yet research activities in mental and neurological (MN) health have been largely neglected, in low- and middle-income countries
Few efforts have been made in such countries -- including Latin American countries (LACs) [1,2] -- to devise strategies to overcome the challenges faced by this type of research
In a previous publication [2] we presented information resulting from interviews to key mental health actors in the Latin American region, focused on the status of MN health research

Summary

Introduction

Research evidence is essential to inform policies, interventions and programs, and yet research activities in mental and neurological (MN) health have been largely neglected, in low- and middle-income countries. Many challenges have been identified in the production and utilization of research evidence in Latin American countries, and more work is needed to overcome this disadvantageous situation. This study aims to address the situation by identifying initiatives that could improve MN health research activities and implementation of their results in the Latin American region. Initiatives to foster MN health research are urgently needed in order to systematically improve both health policies and clinical practice in LACs. In a previous publication [2] we presented information resulting from interviews to key mental health actors in the Latin American region, focused on the status of MN health research. This article presents concrete ways of dealing with the difficulties that MN health research faces in LACs, and intends to propose guidelines aimed at fostering effective MN health research

Objectives

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion