Embedding research capacity strengthening in multicountry sexual health research
Issued Date
2025-11-03
Resource Type
eISSN
20597908
Scopus ID
2-s2.0-105020854220
Journal Title
BMJ Global Health
Volume
10
Issue
11
Rights Holder(s)
SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
BMJ Global Health Vol.10 No.11 (2025)
Suggested Citation
Fine E., Muriuki P., Hunter E.C., Gonsalves L., Brizuela V., Black K., Hendriks J., Burns S., Glasgow-Collins R., Hodges C., Saltis H., Tofail F., Khan M.S.I., Khan R., Rahman M.M., Hasan M.K., Soltana N., Koli S., Sarkar R.A., Ali M.S., Morroni C., Mussa A., Bapabi M., Hansman E., Moshashane N., Ramontshonyana K., Makuch M., Zotareli V., Bento S., Laporte M., Mpoca C., Munezero A., Padua K., Deering K., Lowik A.J., Logie C., Salway T., Shannon K., Aikema E., Johnson B., Kuntz E., Mackenzie F., Mortimer K., Myers S., Ohtsuka M., Perry C., Thompson C., Watasuki L., Murad R., Zambrano D., Fonseca J., Rivera D., Roldán D., Calderón M., Torpey K., Manu A., Modey E., Ogum D., Badzi C., Akatoti W., Anaba E., Younge E., Obeng K., Sai G., Balde M.D., Diallo A., Camara S., Diallo R., Diawara A., Faro S., Kamano M.K., Keita D., Sall A.O., Soumah A.M., Toure A.O., Wilopo S.A., Choiriyyah I., Fahdilla N., Rachmawati R., Nimbi F.M., Galizia R., Lai C., Simonelli C., Tambelli R., Maina B., Otukpa E., Juma K., Muriuki P., Ahmad N.A., Kassim M.S.A., Razak M.A.A., Ahmad F.H., Alias N., Rahim N.C.A., Low L.L., Zubairi K.S.M., Rezali M.S., Sahril N., Shahein N.A., Shamsuddin N. Embedding research capacity strengthening in multicountry sexual health research. BMJ Global Health Vol.10 No.11 (2025). doi:10.1136/bmjgh-2025-020907 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/123456789/113003
Title
Embedding research capacity strengthening in multicountry sexual health research
Author(s)
Fine E.
Muriuki P.
Hunter E.C.
Gonsalves L.
Brizuela V.
Black K.
Hendriks J.
Burns S.
Glasgow-Collins R.
Hodges C.
Saltis H.
Tofail F.
Khan M.S.I.
Khan R.
Rahman M.M.
Hasan M.K.
Soltana N.
Koli S.
Sarkar R.A.
Ali M.S.
Morroni C.
Mussa A.
Bapabi M.
Hansman E.
Moshashane N.
Ramontshonyana K.
Makuch M.
Zotareli V.
Bento S.
Laporte M.
Mpoca C.
Munezero A.
Padua K.
Deering K.
Lowik A.J.
Logie C.
Salway T.
Shannon K.
Aikema E.
Johnson B.
Kuntz E.
Mackenzie F.
Mortimer K.
Myers S.
Ohtsuka M.
Perry C.
Thompson C.
Watasuki L.
Murad R.
Zambrano D.
Fonseca J.
Rivera D.
Roldán D.
Calderón M.
Torpey K.
Manu A.
Modey E.
Ogum D.
Badzi C.
Akatoti W.
Anaba E.
Younge E.
Obeng K.
Sai G.
Balde M.D.
Diallo A.
Camara S.
Diallo R.
Diawara A.
Faro S.
Kamano M.K.
Keita D.
Sall A.O.
Soumah A.M.
Toure A.O.
Wilopo S.A.
Choiriyyah I.
Fahdilla N.
Rachmawati R.
Nimbi F.M.
Galizia R.
Lai C.
Simonelli C.
Tambelli R.
Maina B.
Otukpa E.
Juma K.
Muriuki P.
Ahmad N.A.
Kassim M.S.A.
Razak M.A.A.
Ahmad F.H.
Alias N.
Rahim N.C.A.
Low L.L.
Zubairi K.S.M.
Rezali M.S.
Sahril N.
Shahein N.A.
Shamsuddin N.
Muriuki P.
Hunter E.C.
Gonsalves L.
Brizuela V.
Black K.
Hendriks J.
Burns S.
Glasgow-Collins R.
Hodges C.
Saltis H.
Tofail F.
Khan M.S.I.
Khan R.
Rahman M.M.
Hasan M.K.
Soltana N.
Koli S.
Sarkar R.A.
Ali M.S.
Morroni C.
Mussa A.
Bapabi M.
Hansman E.
Moshashane N.
Ramontshonyana K.
Makuch M.
Zotareli V.
Bento S.
Laporte M.
Mpoca C.
Munezero A.
Padua K.
Deering K.
Lowik A.J.
Logie C.
Salway T.
Shannon K.
Aikema E.
Johnson B.
Kuntz E.
Mackenzie F.
Mortimer K.
Myers S.
Ohtsuka M.
Perry C.
Thompson C.
Watasuki L.
Murad R.
Zambrano D.
Fonseca J.
Rivera D.
Roldán D.
Calderón M.
Torpey K.
Manu A.
Modey E.
Ogum D.
Badzi C.
Akatoti W.
Anaba E.
Younge E.
Obeng K.
Sai G.
Balde M.D.
Diallo A.
Camara S.
Diallo R.
Diawara A.
Faro S.
Kamano M.K.
Keita D.
Sall A.O.
Soumah A.M.
Toure A.O.
Wilopo S.A.
Choiriyyah I.
Fahdilla N.
Rachmawati R.
Nimbi F.M.
Galizia R.
Lai C.
Simonelli C.
Tambelli R.
Maina B.
Otukpa E.
Juma K.
Muriuki P.
Ahmad N.A.
Kassim M.S.A.
Razak M.A.A.
Ahmad F.H.
Alias N.
Rahim N.C.A.
Low L.L.
Zubairi K.S.M.
Rezali M.S.
Sahril N.
Shahein N.A.
Shamsuddin N.
Author's Affiliation
The University of Sydney
Curtin University
Clemson University
Organisation Mondiale de la Santé
Universitas Gadjah Mada
University of Ghana
The University of Sydney School of Public Health
Faculty of Medicine and Psychology
International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research Bangladesh
Kementerian Kesihatan Malaysia
African Population and Health Research Center
Centro de Pesquisas em Saúde Reprodutiva de Campinas
Botswana Harvard Health Partnership
Centre for Gender and Sexual Health Equity
Profamilia
Center for Research in Reproductive Health in Guinea (CERREGUI)
Curtin University
Clemson University
Organisation Mondiale de la Santé
Universitas Gadjah Mada
University of Ghana
The University of Sydney School of Public Health
Faculty of Medicine and Psychology
International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research Bangladesh
Kementerian Kesihatan Malaysia
African Population and Health Research Center
Centro de Pesquisas em Saúde Reprodutiva de Campinas
Botswana Harvard Health Partnership
Centre for Gender and Sexual Health Equity
Profamilia
Center for Research in Reproductive Health in Guinea (CERREGUI)
Corresponding Author(s)
Other Contributor(s)
Abstract
Research capacity strengthening (RCS) is fundamental for advancing sustainable sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) research. This article examines how RCS was embedded into the CoTSIS study, a multicountry cognitive testing initiative across 19 countries based on existing frameworks and experience. We offer lessons learnt for others intending to embed RCS in multicountry research implementation. The CoTSIS study incorporated RCS at all stages of study implementation. Capacity strengthening was incorporated in study start-up through the application and selection process of study teams, protocol co-creation and adaptation of the study tool into 15 languages. RCS was also embedded through training of study teams in cognitive interviewing techniques, ethics and sensitive research methods using a flipped classroom approach, as well as by providing ongoing support during data collection and during joint analysis and results write-up. There were several lessons learnt from this experience, such as: (1) include RCS goals and budget during study planning; (2) plan for training and needs assessments; (3) benefit from the advantages of online tools; (4) budget resources for knowledge translation activities; and (5) plan for assessing sustained capacity strengthened. By embedding specific and intentional RCS goals and activities, multicountry studies can contribute to long-lasting and sustainable RCS, encouraging power shifts and country ownership.