HIV/AIDS research in Africa and the Middle East: participation and equity in North-South collaborations and relationships

Abstract

Background HIV/AIDS has attracted considerable research attention since the 1980s. In the current context of globalization and the predominance of cooperative work, it is crucial to analyze the participation of the countries and regions where the infection is most prevalent. This study assesses the participation of African countries in publications on the topic, as well as the degree of equity or influence existing in North-South relations. Methods We identified all articles and reviews of HIV/AIDS indexed in the Web of Science Core Collection. We analyzed the scientific production, collaboration, and contributions from African and Middle Eastern countries to scientific activity in the region. The concept of leadership, measured through the participation as the first author of documents in collaboration was used to determine the equity in research produced through international collaboration. Results A total of 68,808 documents published from 2010 to 2017 were analyzed. Researchers from North America and Europe participated in 82.14% of the global scientific production on HIV/AIDS, compared to just 21.61% from Africa and the Middle East. Furthermore, the publications that did come out of these regions was concentrated in a small number of countries, led by South Africa (41% of the documents). Other features associated with HIV/AIDS publications from Africa include the importance of international collaboration from the USA, the UK, and other European countries (75–93% of the documents) and the limited participation as first authors that is evident (30 to 36% of the documents). Finally, the publications to which African countries contributed had a notably different disciplinary orientation, with a predominance of research on public health, epidemiology, and drug therapy. Conclusions It is essential to foster more balance in research output, avoid the concentration of resources that reproduces the global North-South model on the African continent, and focus the research agenda on local priorities. To accomplish this, the global North should strengthen the transfer of research skills and seek equity in cooperative ties, favoring the empowerment of African countries. These efforts should be concentrated in countries with low scientific activity and high incidence and prevalence of the disease. It is also essential to foster intraregional collaborations between African countries.

“We should be at the table together from the beginning”: perspectives on partnership from stakeholders at four research institutions in sub-Saharan Africa

“…This finding suggests that there is still some way to go before principles of fairness are embedded in practice and is consistent with claims that the system of global health remains colonial at its core [ 33 ]. Inequities experienced by participants included only being invited to participate in a study after the research concept and design had been determined [ 10 ], being offered only a limited role [ 1 , 17 ], receiving fewer benefits than HIC partners [ 36 , 38 ], HIC partners interfering in the LMIC institution’s operations [ 12 , 39 ] and HIC partners over-claiming authorship positions [ 16 , 18 ]. Several less well documented challenges also emerged which had arisen when LMIC institutions were in the lead partner role.…”

Understanding Individual Barriers to HIV Testing Among Undergraduate University Students: Results From a Cross-Sectional Study in Italy

“…Attention to this seems to be lower in Italy ( 23 ) and in western European countries, other than the United Kingdom ( 24 ). The majority of studies have been from the United States ( 25 ), aside those from Sub-Saharan Africa ( 26 ). In the latter, although patterns of HIV testing utilization vary from group to another (e.g., gender, age category) ( 27 ), a universal awareness and a very high level of HIV knowledge attributable to sustained health education programs, have been shown ( 28 ).…”

Equity in HIV mental health research: a call to action

“…An estimated 5.8% of PLWH are in western/central Europe or North America, whereas 67.7% of PLWH are in Africa or the Middle East [ 4 ]. Despite this, a review of 68,808 studies found that over 80% of research into HIV published between 2010–2017 was produced in North America and Europe [ 5 ]. Authorship of HIV research is clustered in high-income countries in North America and Europe [ 6 ], whereas the greatest burden of HIV infection lies in the Global South, where access to latest-generation cART and psychological healthcare is also limited.…”