The COVID-19 outbreak, its differential impact on people around the world and the initial public health response raises more than ever the importance of involving those most affected in decision-making on appropriate action in differing contexts based on local knowledge.
While much research focus is on finding a vaccine, there is an urgent need to explore the pandemic’s effect on the health and livelihoods of the marginalised and the vulnerable in society in a way that does not further marginalise those very people.
Participatory Health Research offers a way forward that is consistent with the calls for social justice and community support in the aftermath.
We are concerned that in the rush for certainty and solution the lure of a command and control top down approach to research will prevail to the detriment of a longer term recovery that is based on rich local knowledge and consistent with cultural context.
While much research focus is on finding a vaccine, there is an urgent need to explore the pandemic’s effect on the health and livelihoods of the marginalised and the vulnerable in society in a way that does not further marginalise those very people.
Participatory Health Research offers a way forward that is consistent with the calls for social justice and community support in the aftermath.
We are concerned that in the rush for certainty and solution the lure of a command and control top down approach to research will prevail to the detriment of a longer term recovery that is based on rich local knowledge and consistent with cultural context.
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