Challenges in public health and epidemiology research in humanitarian settings: experiences from the field
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RESEARCH IN PRACTICE
Open Access
Challenges in public health and epidemiology research in humanitarian settings: experiences from the field Debarati Guha-Sapir1 and Sarah Elizabeth Scales2*
Abstract Background: Humanitarian settings often present unique scientific challenges and conditions that distinguish them from standard research settings. While a number of these challenges are faced in both standard settings and humanitarian settings, factors unique to humanitarian settings such as inaccessibility and time sensitivities further exacerbate the effects of these challenges. This analysis focuses on experiences in post-disaster contexts such as Indonesia and India following the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami, the Philippines following Typhoon Haiyan in 2013, and Nepal following the 2015 earthquake. Discussion: Particular issues that we faced in undertaking research in post-disaster settings include challenges with uncharted ethical and cultural considerations, non-standardised administrative methods for record keeping, data sharing and dissemination. While these issues are not unique to post-disaster humanitarian settings, the timesensitive nature of our work exacerbated the effects of these concerns. Relying on local partners and making quick decisions to tackle issues is imperative for navigating both foreseen and unforeseen challenges. While pre-emptive action to address these concerns is the most efficient means to expedite research protocols, adaptability and contingency planning are key components of practical research implementation in dynamic situations. Conclusions: Research is not always a priority in humanitarian settings, so innovative methods are necessary to conduct meaningful and situationally appropriate research in these venues. By understanding available resources, local culture, and political considerations and working efficiently and decisively, we can begin to jump hurdles associated with epidemiologic research in humanitarian settings. Keywords: Epidemiology, Humanitarian settings, Disasters, Natural hazards
Background Since 2000, climate disasters have accounted for roughly 90% of the 7345 disasters recorded in EMDA T [1, 2]. Floods have occurred 5 times as frequently in the last decade compared to 1980s with over 3000 major events since 2000. As more humanitarian crises are precipitated by disasters, health research in humanitarian settings must continue to grapple with * Correspondence: [email protected] 2 Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 722 W 168th St, New York, NY 10032, USA Full list of author information is available at the end of the article
these complex environments. While studying human impact and deaths is of utmost importance, these studies also generate questions related to the ethics of such activities [3]. Further, the conditions in postdisaster settings present hurdles to research that must meet acceptable scientific standards while also navigating unusual barriers to implementation. While humanitarian settings characterised by armed civil conflic
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