‘Labouring’ on the frontlines of global health research: mapping challenges experienced by frontline workers in Africa and Asia
by Busisiwe Nkosi, Jennifer Ilo Van Nuil, Deborah Nyirenda, Primus Che Chi, Mira Leonie SchneidersA systematic review on ethical challenges of ‘field’ research in low-income and middle-income countries: respect, justice and beneficence for research staff?
by Steinart, Janina Isabel, et al.Primary data collection in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) is associated with a range of ethical complexities. Considerations on how to adequately ensure the well-being of research staff are largely neglected in contemporary ethics discourse. This systematic review aims to identify the ethical challenges that research staff across different hierarchical levels and scientific disciplines face when conducting research in LMICs.
Model for developing context-sensitive responses to vulnerability in research: managing ethical dilemmas faced by frontline research staff in Kenya
by Molyneux, Sassy, et al.Supporting the Mental Health of Health Workers during COVID-19
by Ngoc Nguyen and Hien Tran, Public and Community Engagement Unit, Oxford University Clinical Research Unit“Working in the department, before screening, I have to screen the patients, the responsibility and the greater pressure and ensure the safety of all medical staff and patients. This line of work is also scary.” Acknowledging the impacts of the challenging context of COVID-19 for health workers, this online workshop explored some of the experiences of health care workers in Vietnam and discussed strategies to support their mental health and wellbeing.
COVID-19 in Africa: care and protection for frontline healthcare workers
by Matthew F. Chersich , Glenda Gray, Lee Fairlie, Quentin Eichbaum, Susannah Mayhew, Brian Allwood, Rene English, Fiona Scorgie, Stanley Luchters, Greg Simpson, Marjan Mosalman Haghighi, Minh Duc Pham and Helen ReesSustaining safe and quality care in the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic hinges on the health and mental wellbeing of frontline healthcare workers. Medical staff face exhaustion, difficult triage decisions, separation from families, stigma and the pain of losing patients and colleagues, in addition to their own risks of infection. In this literature review, the authors describe the infection risks and mental health challenges that healthcare workers face in the COVID-19 pandemic and propose interventions to counter these in Africa. Lessons from previous disease-control efforts on the continent are highlighted and draw on experiences with SARS-CoV-2 in other parts of the world.