Health research in the commonwealth Caribbean

Health research and the dissemination of its findings are important to heal thcare development. It is therefore useful to monitor the productivity of s cientists and to examine the difficulties which affect their ability to con duct and publish research findings, This study aimed to examine these facto rs in six Caribbean countries Health researchers publishing two or more pap ers in refereed professional journals between 1987 and 1990 were interviewe d to determine area of research, number of publications and research constr aints. In those four years, 427 first authored articles were published by t hose interviewed. University of the West Indies (UWI) researchers in the th ree campus territories published most of the articles, with little research being done in noncampus territories. Of seven priority areas defined by Ca ribbean Health Ministers, most researchers were interested in chronic disea ses, maternal and child health, followed by nutrition and the acquired immu nodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). There was not much research on human resource development and strengthening of health care systems. Major constraints to research were lack of resources including funding, time staff and equipmen t, Despite this, only 54% had applied for funding. There were few posts for research at the UWI. Notwithstanding these constraints, researches were co nducting several projects simultaneously and were involved with more projec ts than would be expected from the number of publications. Many expressed t he need for experienced advice and assistance in writing protocols and anal yzing data At the UWI it might be helpful to appoint a senior person of gro up in each department with specific responsibility for promoting research.