Lab Activity 2 - Developing JLA methods for priority setting in Lower and Middle Income Countries

JLA Priority Setting Partnerships (PSPs) are working to develop locally appropriate research priorities in Ethiopia and Uganda, by bringing together both technical experts and experts from lived experience, regardless of social status, age, literacy level and internet access.

The Women's Genital Prolapse and Incontinence JLA PSP in Ethiopia is a collaboration between the College of Medicine and Health Sciences at the University of Gondar and the Department of Health Sciences at the University of Leicester.  

The Pregnancy and Childbirth (Uganda) PSP is identifying research priorities by consulting the community in Eastern Uganda.

PSPs are also taking place in Diabetic Eye Disease in Low and Middle Income Countries, and Critical Care Asia and Africa.

We continue to welcome any further opportunities to explore JLA methods in a range of Lower and Middle Income Countries.  

Questions and answers:

Why are the PSPs in Ethiopia and Uganda in the JLA Lab and not considered a standard JLA PSP?

These PSPs are an important test of the adaptations necessary to conduct a successful JLA process in this setting, within the constraints of low levels of literacy, variable access to electronic media, and dispersed geography.

The teams are predominantly locally based, rather than UK based.  They have been using door-to-door interviews, group meetings, interviews with patients and families in clinics or their homes, and paper surveys for people who are literate.  Evaluating and reporting on the feasibility of this while maintaining core JLA principles is an important part of the work.

How can the JLA ensure equality of voices in this context?

The Steering Groups of both PSPs are being supported by a JLA Adviser.  The Adviser and Steering Group members are working hard to ensure equitable input from the perspectives of patients, carers and healthcare workers, and that the work is done in a fair and transparent way.