Enreca Health > About > ENRECA Achievements > Policy Briefs
Policy Briefs - research communication in practice
ENRECA Health has contributed to a more effective utilisation of research-based knowledge in decision-making processes. A policy or research brief is an important instrument in dissemination of research results to the users of research. ENRECA Health has facilitated processes to develop focused, accessible and feasible policy briefs.
- Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights
- Sexual and Reproductive Health in Vietnam
- Climate Change, NCDs, HIV treatment
1. Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights
Few topics in international development are so controversial as Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) because of its many links to culture, rights and gender. SRHR is central to Danish assistance to development cooperation and also high on the research agenda of many students, individual researchers as well as larger research groups and their partners in the South.
In order to present research-based evidence on issues in the field of SRHR, ENRECA Health facilitates a Working Group on Sexual and Reproductive Health (jointly funded with the Platform on Human Health). Through a drafting process over several months during 2010 and 2011, the Group has developed policy briefs and a background paper on SRHR.
The papers are the first attempt to cover the broad and complex issue. The subsequent editions will sharpen the focus and keep them up-to-date in this rapidly changing field. They are intended as an introduction for Danida staff, parliamentary members, and others who want to strengthen the evidence base, which they use for their own work, programme, policy and advocacy.
How have they been used?
Already before their launching, the policy briefs have been requested by external actors (NGOs, UN offices, Danida) who have used them to brief the media, to prepare internal training activities and to prepare technical meetings. The researchers have used the background paper for preparation of teaching, articles and applications.
2. Sexual and Reproductive Health in Vietnam
As a part of the long-term Danida funded capacity development project REACH (Strengthening Population and Reproductive Health Research in Vietnam), ENRECA Health facilitated workshops on how to produce reader friendly research summaries and policy briefs. The REACH project was a twinning-arrangement between two partner institutions: the Vietnamese Commission for Population, Family and Children and ISIM, University of Copenhagen. The project had strong components on research communication and of developing a research network to foster exchange of ideas between researchers based in northern Vietnam and researchers based in Denmark, Sweden and the Netherlands.
ENRECA Health facilitated the development of eight research briefs by REACH researchers:
- Bui Kim Chi: Reproductive choice among HIV positive women in Northern Vietnam
- Do Thi Thanh Toan: HIV/AIDS related stigma and discrimination at the workplace of Vietnam
- Nguyen My Huong: Breaking the silence: reproductive tract infections (RTI) among abortion seeking women in Vietnam
- Nguyen Thi Ngoc Lan: HIV counselling and testing among pregnant women in Hai Phong Province, Vietnam
- Nguyen Thi Thuy Hanh: Technology of hope: Prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV in a northern province of Vietnam
- Nguyen Thi Thu Nam: Access to anti-retroviral (ARV) treatment among HIV positive women in a northern province of Vietnam
- Tran Minh Hang: Ultrasound scanning for fetal malformations in Hanoi Obstetrical anc gynocological hospital, Vietnam
- Tran Thu Thuy: HIV testing among Men who have Sex with Men in Hai Phong city
How have they been used?
Research briefs were presented in a Research Day event, organised by the Danish Embassy in Hanoi in cooperation with the Ministry of Science and Technology. The event celerated the successful research partnership between Vietnam and Denmark, and was part of the celebration of 40 years of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Denmark.
3. Policy briefs on Climate Change, Gender, NCDs
ENRECA Health has supported a variety of research groups in developing research summaries and policy briefs. These briefs have been used for many purposes, including briefing donors and researchers.
- Lisa Ann Richey (2011): 'HIV treatment is a reproductive health issue'. Policy brief based on the research project: The Politics of Access to Antiretrovirals in the Treatment of African AIDS (2005-2010).
- Climate Change Task Force (2011): 'Linking Climate Change Adaptation Policies and Practice'. Policy brief based on the outcome of the workshop ‘Climate Change Adaptation - linking policies and practice', 22-23 November 2010.
