Why research is important in international health linking

Eldryd ParryCymru o blaid Affrica Wales for Africa Caerdydd Cardiff2 Gorffenaf 2014 2 July 2014

Mud, mud, glorious mud!

The house where we worked

Connecting to the electricity supply

Family, friends, interested people

and those randomly selected

Dr Sintayehu at work, watched by Professor David Phillips

The portable Echocardiograph Machine (given by Chain of Hope)

Anthropometry; is there evidence of early undernutrition?

Research

A. Adds authority and value to a link

B. Brings science into international development

C. Challenges current practice

D. Develops and improves a service

E. Enlarges the capabilities and confidence of those who do it

The classic from the Poverty Action Lab, MIT

“The lab’s efforts have breathed new life into the elaborate (if so far ineffective) existing network of philanthropic aid organizations. More profoundly, they have laid bare the inanity of the argument—most famously advanced by the libertarian Nobelist Milton Friedman—that the profit motive is inextricable from the solving of problems."—Maureen Tkacik, Bookforum

Trained enumerators, Dabat, N. Ethiopia October 2008

The epilepsy follow up study

62 percent seizure free at last attendance22 percent seizure free at time of study Outcome Number (%) of patients (n = 113) Dead 28 (25%) Moved 21 (19%) In remission 16 (14%) Seizures continuing 48 (42%)

25 percent of patients had died of epilepsy related causes.40 percent found the journey, even to their nearest health centre, too difficult duration of journey, defaulters 6.75 (5.12)h attenders 4.03 (5.56)h p=<0.05

therefore provide care even closer to their home

S. Berhanu et al. (2009) Seizure 18: 100–103

Reasons given by patients for defaulting from follow-up

Reasons Main n=76 Contributory % %Too far to travel 33 64Unable to travel because of epilepsy 4 26Cost of travel 4 20Traditional remedies preferred 12 51 No improvement with treatment 9 28Seizures much improved 8 16Cost of treatment 3 11

S. Berhanu et al. (2009) Seizure 18: 100–103

Research

A. Adds authority and value to a link

B. Brings science into international development

C. Challenges current practice

D. Develops and improves a service

E. Enlarges the capabilities and confidence of those who do it