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. 2024 Sep 18;9(1):36.
doi: 10.1186/s41256-024-00378-7.

Demand-driven capacity building for public health nutrition research in Lao PDR

Gerald Shively  1 , Ramya Ambikapathi  2 , Kate Eddens  3 , Susmita Ghosh  4 , Nilupa S Gunaratna  4 , Kelley Khamphouxay  5 , Ratthiphone Oula  5 , Kethmany Ratsavong  6 , Thipphakesone Saylath  5 , Latsamy Siengsounthone  6 , Patricia Sipes  4 , Vanphanom Sychareun  6 , Carmen Tekwe  3 , Leah Thompson  4 , Souksamone Thongmixay  7 , Maikho Vongxay  8 , Viengnakhone Vongxay  6 , Roger Zoh  3
Affiliations

Demand-driven capacity building for public health nutrition research in Lao PDR

Gerald Shively et al. Glob Health Res Policy. .

Abstract

In Laos, rates of undernutrition, especially among children under 5 years of age, remain high. In response, a large multidisciplinary team embarked on a multi-year project in Laos beginning in 2019 with the purpose of institutional strengthening around public health nutrition research. This paper summarizes the Applied Nutrition Research Capacity Building project's activities, immediate project results, and prospects for sustaining impacts into the future. Eight primary activities were undertaken, including back-office strengthening, mentored research, and curriculum review and development. Requested training and skill development in areas related to public health nutrition, anthropometry, and research methods reached more than 1000 professionals. The first edition of a Lao-English Nutrition Glossary was produced, as was the country's first National Nutrition Research Agenda, a document which sets locally-identified priorities for future research. Project success was achieved by focusing on the priorities of project partners and the Lao government, as articulated in the Lao National Nutrition Strategy and Action Plan. Project design elements that could guide similar efforts undertaken elsewhere include multi-year engagement, an emphasis on sustained peer mentorship, and the use of an extended period of pre-planning in collaboration with project stakeholders prior to the start of activities.

Keywords: Higher education; Institutional strengthening; Nutrition; Public health; Research.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Timeline of project phases, activities and events
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Primary mapping from areas of support to strategic objectives
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Sequence of steps used for the small research grants (SRGs)
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Institutional affiliation of survey respondents
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Highest degree earned by survey respondents
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Proportion of survey respondents based on affiliation and gender
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Previous research training of survey respondents
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Fig. 8
Previous formal courses in nutrition of survey respondents
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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