Global Health Mentorship: Challenges and Opportunities for Equitable Partnership

Luchuo Bain; Brenda Yankam; Jude Kong; Claude Ngwayu; Oluwaseun Badru; Ikenna Desmond Ebuenyi; Azeez Butali; Nicholas Adjei; Oluwafemi Adeagbo

doi:10.1136/bmjgh-2023-013751

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Global Health Mentorship: Challenges and Opportunities for Equitable Partnership

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Global Health Mentorship: Challenges and Opportunities for Equitable Partnership

Luchuo Bain, Brenda Yankam, Jude Kong, Claude Ngwayu, Oluwaseun Badru, Ikenna Desmond Ebuenyi, Azeez Butali, Nicholas Adjei and Oluwafemi Adeagbo

BMJ global health, Vol.8(11), e013751

11/01/2023

DOI: 10.1136/bmjgh-2023-013751

PMCID: PMC10660828

PMID: 37984896

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Abstract

[...]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.

Culture

Ethics

Careers

Collaboration

Colonialism

Cultural differences

Decolonization

Health disparities

High income

Industrialized nations

Language

Medical research

Mentors

Researchers

Details

Title: Subtitle: Global Health Mentorship: Challenges and Opportunities for Equitable Partnership
Creators: Luchuo Bain - University of Johannesburg
Brenda Yankam - University of Buea
Jude Kong - York University
Claude Ngwayu
Oluwaseun Badru - University of Iowa
Ikenna Desmond Ebuenyi - University of Pittsburgh
Azeez Butali - University of Iowa
Nicholas Adjei - University of Liverpool
Oluwafemi Adeagbo - University of Iowa
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: BMJ global health, Vol.8(11), e013751
DOI: 10.1136/bmjgh-2023-013751
PMID: 37984896
PMCID: PMC10660828
NLM abbreviation: BMJ Glob Health
ISSN: 2059-7908
eISSN: 2059-7908
Publisher: BMJ Publishing Group LTD
Language: English
Date published: 11/01/2023
Academic Unit: Oral Pathology, Radiology and Medicine; Stead Family Department of Pediatrics; Craniofacial Anomalies Research Center; Dental Research; Community and Behavioral Health
Record Identifier: 9984513358402771

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