title: Sexual and Reproductive Health Research and Research Capacity Strengthening in Africa: Perspectives from the region.
abstract: Developing the capacity to effectively carry out public health research is an integral part of health systems at both the national and global levels and strengthening research capacity is recognized as an approach to better health and development in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Especially fields such as sexual and reproductive health (SRH) would require inter-disciplinary teams of researchers equipped with a range of methodologies to achieve this. In November 2013, as part of the International Family Planning Conference in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, a group of African researchers came together to discuss the gaps and strategies to improve sexual and reproductive health research and research capacity strengthening in Africa. This commentary summarizes the three broad areas where the issues and proposed solutions have concentrated around: 1) Addressing research gaps that are most relevant to policies and programmes in SRH, 2) Carrying out high quality and collaborative research, and 3) Translating research findings into SRH policies and programmes. Even though the focus of the discussions was Africa, the issues and proposed solutions can also be applied to other regions facing a high burden of disease with limited resources. The time is now and these can be achieved through synergistic commitment of African and global researchers, funders and organizations.
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana. rmadanu@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Adanu
authors.affiliation: University of Zimbabwe, Avondale, Harare, Zimbabwe. mikembizvo@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Michael T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Mbizvo
authors.affiliation: Institut de recherche en science de la sante IRSS, Ouagadougou, Burkina-Faso. abaguiya@irss.bf.
authors.forename: Adama
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Baguiya
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Health College of Medical Sciences, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria. vincent.adam@uniben.edu.
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Adam
authors.affiliation: College of Public Health and Medical Sciences, Jimma University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. beyenewondafrash@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Beyene W
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Ademe
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana. augankomah@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Augustine
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ankomah
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, Babcock University, Ilishan Remo, Nigeria. gndaja@yahoo.co.uk.
authors.forename: Godwin N
authors.initials: GN
authors.lastname: Aja
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Promotion and Education, Faculty of Public Health, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria. ajajuwon@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Ademola J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Ajuwon
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Health, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. pejuesimai@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Olapeju A
authors.initials: OA
authors.lastname: Esimai
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Health, Usmanu Danfodiyo University & Teaching Hospital, Sokoto, Nigeria. ibrahimtaofeek@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Taofeek
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ibrahim
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Botswana, Gaborone, Botswana. mokobekd@mopipi.ub.bw.
authors.forename: Dintle K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Mogobe
authors.affiliation: Department of Reproductive Health and Research including UNDP/UNFPA/UNICEF/WHO/World Bank Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction (HRP), World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland. tuncalpo@who.int.
authors.forename: Özge
authors.initials: Ö
authors.lastname: Tunçalp
authors.affiliation: Department of Reproductive Health and Research including UNDP/UNFPA/UNICEF/WHO/World Bank Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction (HRP), World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland. chandramouliv@who.int.
authors.forename: Venkatraman
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Chandra-Mouli
authors.affiliation: Department of Reproductive Health and Research including UNDP/UNFPA/UNICEF/WHO/World Bank Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction (HRP), World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland. temmermanm@who.int.
authors.forename: Marleen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Temmerman
mesh_terms: D000349:Africa; D003906:Developing Countries; D005002:Ethiopia; D005193:Family Planning Services; D006078:Government Programs; D006291:Health Policy; D006292:Health Priorities; D006801:Humans; D058025:Interdisciplinary Studies; D060728:Reproductive Health; D012106:Research / Q000639:trends*; D012109:Research Support as Topic