Local knowledge: Research capacity building in international health

Two aspects of training are examined: the way interdisciplinary methods--qualitative and quantitative approaches--are presented to researchers, given the context of international health research culture; and how researchers' local knowledge and local concerns in pursuing health research relevant to policy led them to become interested in anthropology.

Abstract

Processes of building research capacity in international health projects and their implications for anthropology are addressed using examples from the Applied Diarrheal Disease Research project funded by the United States Agency for International Development. Two aspects of training are examined: the way interdisciplinary methods--qualitative and quantitative approaches--are presented to researchers, given the context of international health research culture; and how researchers' local knowledge and local concerns in pursuing health research relevant to policy led them to become interested in anthropology. The consequences for anthropology's place and product in future capacity building efforts in international health research are discussed.