Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2015 Dec;93(6):1194-200.
doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.15-0241. Epub 2015 Aug 31.

Global Health Opportunities in Obstetrics and Gynecology Training: Examining Engagement Through an Ethical Lens

Mohammad Y Zaidi  1 , Lisa Haddad  2 , Eva Lathrop  2
Affiliations

Global Health Opportunities in Obstetrics and Gynecology Training: Examining Engagement Through an Ethical Lens

Mohammad Y Zaidi et al. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2015 Dec.

Abstract

This study aims to describe global health training (GHT) programs through the ethical lens suggested by the Working Group on Ethics Guidelines for Global Health Training (WEIGHT). A total of 35 GHT programs were identified, and general information was obtained online. Semi-structured telephone interviews of key members of 19 programs were then conducted and transcribed. The interview guide was constructed using WEIGHT recommendations. Transcript data were grouped according to domains: reciprocity, trainee selection and preparedness, needs assessments, and ethical questions. Many programs expressed difficulty in building reciprocal relationships due to imbalanced power structures. Eleven programs reported no formal application process for selecting trainees. Twelve (63%) programs reported only a single day of preparation. Nine (47%) programs did not conduct a formalized needs assessment of partner sites. Ethical considerations varied from concerns for safety to inadequate training for residents. This study reveals the limited preparedness curricula and lack of formalized needs assessments among several programs. Although many programs make an effort to build reciprocal exchanges with host partners, experiences for foreign trainees within the United States are limited, and U.S. residents are often tasked with duties above their training level abroad. This study demonstrates the need to restructure how GHT programs are formed and operated.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Identification and selection of global health training programs for study participation.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Interview instrument for telephone interviews.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Frequency of topics covered in preparedness curricula volunteered by global health training programs during telephone interviews.
Figure 4.
Figure 4.
Proportion of global health training programs completing formalized needs assessments per telephone interview results.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Similar articles

See all similar articles

Cited by

References

    1. Hung KJ, Tsai AC, Johnson TR, Walensky RP, Bangsberg DR, Kerry VB. Scope of global health training in U.S. obstetrics and gynecology residency programs. Obstet Gynecol. 2013;122:1101–1109. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Pinto AD, Upshur RE. Global health ethics for students. Developing World Bioeth. 2009;9:1–10. - PubMed
    1. Farmer P, Kim JY, Kleinman A, Basilico M. Reimagining global health: an introduction. 2013;Vol. 1:15–74.
    1. DeCamp M, Rodriguez J, Hecht S, Barry M, Sugarman J. An ethics curriculum for short-term global health trainees. Global Health. 2013;9:5. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Battat R, Seidman G, Chadi N, Chanda MY, Nehme J, Hulme J, Li A, Faridi N, Brewer TF. Global health competencies and approaches in medical education: a literature review. BMC Med Educ. 2010;10:94. - PMC - PubMed