Ukombozi means Liberation: A case for decolonizing global health research, methodology, and praxis

Abstract

Global health research has informed essential responses to health disparities in the world today, shifting the course of such momentous challenges as the HIV/AIDS epidemic. At the same time, the way that global health work is implemented often mirrors colonial relationships which shaped those health disparities in the first place. This thesis presents some of the ways that alternative – specifically Alter/Native – methods may be applied across the research and program development processes to decolonize global health work. The application of these methods are demonstrated within the context of a CBPR cultural and linguistic adaptation for a program called Ukombozi; the program addresses issues of substance abuse, HIV/AIDS, and gender based violence in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Key learnings discussed include navigating the gatekeeping practices of research institutions; indigenizing data collection and the definition of what constitutes data; removing sanctions from the research process; shifting researcher positionality; valuing researcher non-fluency; and indigenizing elements of evidence-based programs. This work contributes to a growing body of literature supporting the use of Alter/Native methods as a rigorous, practical, and efficacious means of knowledge production that can be used to inform the development of health programs and interventions.