What Do Global Health Practitioners Think about Decolonizing Global Health?

Area of Science:

• Global Health
• Health Equity
• Postcolonial Studies

Background:

• Colonialism's impact on global health partnerships between high-income countries (HICs) and low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) is increasingly recognized.
• Calls for decolonization in global health advocate for a paradigm shift towards equitable engagement and partnerships.
• Systemic inequities are perpetuated by colonialism, racism, sexism, and capitalism.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify recurring themes in the literature for addressing inequities in global health partnerships.
• To explore necessary components for a successful decolonization of global health.
• To propose a framework for more equitable global health engagement.

Main Methods:

• Comprehensive literature review.
• Analysis of recurring themes related to decolonization and equity in global health.
• Identification of key areas for reform in global health partnerships.

Main Results:

• Moving from rhetoric to reform in decolonizing global health is complex.
• Key themes include equitable representation of LMIC researchers in decision-making, leadership, authorship, and funding.
• Need for agreed-upon principles for best practices, equitable resource sharing, and progress monitoring.

Conclusions:

• Successful decolonization of global health hinges on collaborative discussion between HICs and LMICs.
• A paradigm shift requires equitable representation and power-sharing.
• Establishing clear principles and monitoring mechanisms is crucial for strengthening LMIC institutional capacity and achieving true equity.