The Challenge of Mutual Disclosure in Global Health Partnerships

Institutional partnerships in global health, those contractual relationships involving institutions from the Global North and the Global South for purposes of public health enhancement and academic research, often fail to live up to the expectations held by all parties involved. The literature generally argues that inequities are the main concern in global health partnerships. We break with previous analyses by proposing a conceptual model to explain the frequently poor quality of the relationships based on aspects of sameness between the parties, or what we call symmetries in the relationship. We suggest that certain symmetries in positioning, fears and misgivings, and behavior inhibit critical disclosure of relevant information that could improve the effectiveness of the partnership. We propose seven essential elements of building trust in these relationships, and we recommend an incremental approach that treats trust as both a desired outcome and a necessary process that must be developed slowly over time to enhance a partnership's success.