Global Health Mentorship: Challenges and Opportunities for Equitable Partnership

[...]there is an assumption that capacity is lacking in resource-constrained settings like low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). [...]we call for the decolonisation of global health mentorship practices to advance more inclusive ‘mentorship practices’ that value cultural humility, equitabl...

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Published in:BMJ global health 2023-11, Vol.8 (11), p.e013751
Main Authors: Bain, Luchuo Engelbert, Mbouamba Yankam, Brenda, Kong, Jude Dzevela, Claude Nkfusai, Ngwayu, Badru, Oluwaseun Abdulganiyu, Ebuenyi, Ikenna Desmond, Butali, Azeez, Adjei, Nicholas Kofi, Adeagbo, Oluwafemi
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Careers
Collaboration
Colonialism
Commentary
Cultural differences
Culture
Decolonization
Ethics
Global Health
Health disparities
Health systems
High income
Humans
Industrialized nations
Language
Medical research
Mentors
Public Health
Researchers
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Summary:[...]there is an assumption that capacity is lacking in resource-constrained settings like low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). [...]we call for the decolonisation of global health mentorship practices to advance more inclusive ‘mentorship practices’ that value cultural humility, equitable partnership and capacity strengthening in LMICs. Decolonising global health mentorship is pivotal in addressing historical power imbalances and fostering equitable partnerships between researchers from the Global South and the Global North.2 Although it is bidirectional and mutually beneficial, global health mentorship plays a crucial role in capacity strengthening for researchers from the Global South, enabling them to advance their careers and make meaningful contributions to improving health outcomes in their respective regions.3 Global South generally refers to countries and regions that are located below the equator or are considered less economically developed such as sub-Saharan Africa, Middle East and North Africa, South Asia, Southeast Asia and Latin America.4 Mentorship programmes offer valuable guidance, support and capacity-strengthening opportunities to researchers, assisting them in navigating the complexities of global health research and developing essential skills.4 An effective mentorship relationship is built on trust, respect and equitable interactions, where both mentors and mentees share problems and take appropriate responsibilities. Beyond language, cultural differences can also shape mentoring preferences and outlooks, sometimes resulting in discordance in communication and mentorship approaches.6 Resource constraints Researchers from the Global South encounter challenges in participating in mentorship programmes due to constrained resources such as funding and research infrastructure.
ISSN:2059-7908
2059-7908
DOI:10.1136/bmjgh-2023-013751