Challenges for Scientific Writing Ruth Nduati, MBCHB, MMED, MPH Associate Professor of Paediatrics University of Nairobi

Outline Opportunities for training in research methods. Opportunities for training in research methods. Opportunities for research Opportunities for research Barriers for scientific communication. Barriers for scientific communication. Incentives for scientific writing and way forward Incentives for scientific writing and way forward

Training on Research Masters in Medicine (MMED) – offered in Medical schools across sub-Sahara Africa. Masters in Medicine (MMED) – offered in Medical schools across sub-Sahara Africa. thesis based on original research is a core requirement thesis based on original research is a core requirement International Clinical Epidemiology Network INCLEN International Clinical Epidemiology Network INCLEN AFRICLEN AFRICLEN Clinical epidemiology units Clinical epidemiology units (Rockerfeller Foundation support) (Rockerfeller Foundation support) International AIDS Research Training program – (Fogarty International Centre) International AIDS Research Training program – (Fogarty International Centre) University to University programs University to University programs University of Bergen – MPH, PhD programs University of Bergen – MPH, PhD programs University of Dar-es-Salaam and Karolinska Institute etc. University of Dar-es-Salaam and Karolinska Institute etc.

Opportunities for Research Established National Research Institutes Established National Research Institutes Free-standing Medical Research Institutes Free-standing Medical Research Institutes University Departments University Departments Collaborative research groups Collaborative research groups Foreign research outfits Foreign research outfits Welcome Trust, CDC, Walter Reed Welcome Trust, CDC, Walter Reed

Barriers to scientific communication Competing demands of care provision Competing demands of care provision PEPFAR program implementation PEPFAR program implementation Heavy teaching load Heavy teaching load Diminishing financial support to Universities by Governments Diminishing financial support to Universities by Governments Introduction of fee-paying programs and other income generating activities at Universities to ensure sustainability Introduction of fee-paying programs and other income generating activities at Universities to ensure sustainability Research institutes developing training programs as income generating Research institutes developing training programs as income generating

Barriers to scientific communication Dependence on foreign funding for research activities Dependence on foreign funding for research activities Data ownership? Data ownership? Limited support for data analysis Limited support for data analysis Inadequate skills in scientific writing Inadequate skills in scientific writing Limited access to mentorship on scientific writing Limited access to mentorship on scientific writing Limited access to journals Limited access to journals Perception that established journals are really not interested in the materials from developing country researchers Perception that established journals are really not interested in the materials from developing country researchers

Barriers to scientific communication In the collaborative projects – vetting process a disincentive to writing eg. In the collaborative projects – vetting process a disincentive to writing eg. Research/non research determination process Research/non research determination process Under-valuing of publication of research work carried out by graduate students under faculty supervision Under-valuing of publication of research work carried out by graduate students under faculty supervision

Barriers to scientific communication Competing activities necessary for survival Poverty - poor remuneration by primary employer Poverty - poor remuneration by primary employer in-order to survive, individuals engage in other economic activities and therefore time for intellectual activities is diminished. in-order to survive, individuals engage in other economic activities and therefore time for intellectual activities is diminished.

Incentives for writing and publishing Publish or perish – promotion is based on number of publications Publish or perish – promotion is based on number of publications Scholarship to scientific meetings linked to acceptance of an abstract Scholarship to scientific meetings linked to acceptance of an abstract

Way forward… Deliberate development of ongoing mentorship for scientific writing. Deliberate development of ongoing mentorship for scientific writing. Scientific writing skills building workshops linked to the AIDS conferences? Scientific writing skills building workshops linked to the AIDS conferences? Engage universities in a dialogue on the value of ‘time-protection’ for faculty to engage in research. Engage universities in a dialogue on the value of ‘time-protection’ for faculty to engage in research. Research track Research track Deliberate support to African Universities to strengthen financial stability without sacrificing research and scientific development Deliberate support to African Universities to strengthen financial stability without sacrificing research and scientific development

Muchas Gracias