title: EXPERIENCE WITH THE BRAZILIAN NETWORK FOR STUDIES IN REPRODUCTIVE AND PERINATAL HEALTH: THE POWER OF COLLABORATION IN POSTGRADUATE PROGRAMS.
abstract: The scientific collaboration in networks may be developed among countries, academic institutions and among peer researchers. Once established, they contribute for knowledge dissemination and a strong structure for research in health. Several advantages are attributed to working in networks: the inclusion of a higher number of subjects in the studies; generation of stronger evidence with a higher representativeness of the population (secondary generalization and external validity); higher likelihood of articles derived from these studies to be accepted in high impact journals with a wide coverage; a higher likelihood of obtaining budgets for sponsorship; easier data collection on rare conditions; inclusions of subjects from different ethnic groups and cultures, among others. In Brazil, the Brazilian Network for Studies on Reproductive and Perinatal Health was created in 2008 with the initial purpose of developing a national network of scientific cooperation for the surveillance of severe maternal morbidity. Since the establishment of this Network, five studies were developed, some of them already finished and others almost being completed, and two new ones being implemented. Results of the activities in this Network have been very productive and with a positive impact on not only the Postgraduate Program of Obstetrics and Gynecology from the University of Campinas, its coordinating center, but also on other participating centers. A considerable number of scientific articles was published, master´s dissertations and PhD theses were presented, and post-doctorate programs were performed, including students from several areas of health, from distinct regions and from several institutions of the whole country. This represents a high social impact taking into account the relevance of the studied topics for the country. As colaborações científicas em rede podem ocorrer entre países, instituições acadêmicas e entre pares de pesquisadores e, uma vez estabelecidas, contribuem para a disseminação do conhecimento e estruturação da pesquisa em saúde. Diversas vantagens são atribuídas ao trabalho em rede como: a inclusão de maior número de participantes nos estudos; gerar evidências mais fortes e com maior representatividade da população (generalização secundária e validade externa); maior facilidade das publicações oriundas dos estudos serem aceitas em periódicos de impacto e abrangência; maior probabilidade de obtenção de verbas para financiamento; maior facilidade na coleta de dados sobre condições raras; inclusão de participantes de diferentes grupos étnicos e culturas, entre outras. No Brasil a Rede Brasileira de Estudos em Saúde Reprodutiva e Perinatal foi criada em 2008 com o objetivo inicial de desenvolver rede nacional de cooperação científica para vigilância da morbidade materna grave. Desde sua formação, cinco estudos foram desenvolvidos, alguns já encerrados e outros em fase de finalização, com outros dois em fase final de implantação. Os resultados das atividades desta Rede têm sido bastante produtivos e impactaram positivamente não apenas no Programa de Pós-Graduação em Tocoginecologia da Universidade Estadual de Campinas, seu centro coordenador, mas também o de outros centros participantes, uma vez que expressivo número de artigos científicos foi publicado, mestrados e doutorados foram defendidos e pós-doutorados finalizados, de alunos de diversas áreas da saúde, de diferentes regiões e de várias instituições de todo o país, com alto impacto social dada a relevância dos temas estudados para o país.
authors.affiliation: Postgraduate Program in Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medical Sciences, Campinas State University, Campinas, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: José G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Cecatti
authors.affiliation: Postgraduate Program in Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medical Sciences, Campinas State University, Campinas, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Silveira
authors.affiliation: Postgraduate Program in Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medical Sciences, Campinas State University, Campinas, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Renato T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Souza
authors.affiliation: Postgraduate Program in Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medical Sciences, Campinas State University, Campinas, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Karayna G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Fernandes
authors.affiliation: Postgraduate Program in Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medical Sciences, Campinas State University, Campinas, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Fernanda G
authors.initials: FG
authors.lastname: Surita
mesh_terms: D001938:Brazil; D004503:Education, Medical, Graduate; D006176:Gynecology / Q000193:education*; D009774:Obstetrics / Q000193:education*; D018743:Perinatal Care; D060728:Reproductive Health