PHA-Exchange> CLAUDIO Re: a new paradigm in public health research

[Claudio]

> >A new paradigm: Research for health and for life?

> >RESEARCH IN SOCIAL MEDICINE AND PUBLIC HEALTH:

> >1. Development is about people.

> >2. Each research project in these areas has to be judged by the criterion
of whether it serves the purposes of development --and this purpose is the
wellbeing of people who, for centuries or decades, have been marginalized.

> >3. The question that researchers are NOT asking is WHY a given problem is
given consideration for being researched.

> >4. Social and health problems require that we look at them from three
perspectives:
             -scientifically (to find out what CAN be done);
             -Ethically (to find out what SHOULD be done); and
             -politically and ideologically (to determine what MUST be
done).

> >5.         - Science is (or purports to be) objective.
                 -Ethics is normative.
                 -Politics is pragmatic (.notice is taken of the difference
between
                   politics >and  'politiquing').

> >6.         -Science advances by observation and logical deduction.
                 -Ethics advances by reaching consensus through dialogue and
                   reflection.
                 -Politics advances promoting a consciousness-raising
dialogue.

> >7. Research in social medicine and public health must always be carried
out with a scientific, an ethical AND a social/political perspective and
thus
get involved in studying the factors that dis-empower and empower
marginalized populations and people.
Why? Because if we do not agree on the causes/determinants of
dis-empowerment of people it is impossible for us to agree on what actions
we need to put forward and pursued.

8. "We find what we look for"

> >9. Therefore, for researchers to pursue/go after research funds available
in public health is to follow the ideology of those who make these funds
available. They are thus bound to 'find what the funders are looking for".

Claudio Schuftan, Ho Chi Minh City
claudio at hcmc.netnam.vn