Research Snapshot: Key ethical issues in humanitarian research

The Post-Research Ethics Analysis study partnership, led by Dónal O’Mathúna (Dublin City University &; The Ohio State University), examined ethical issues encountered in the course of humanitarian health research.

Research carried out in humanitarian settings generates a host of ethical considerations which are not yet all well-evidenced or understood. This study represents an early step in categorizing and identifying key ethical issues to inform resources and tools under development.

Researchers encounter many ethical issues at all phases of research projects in humanitarian health, not only during the ‘ethics approval’ stage. Humanitarian health researchers, and their partners, reported a desire to have ethics training, support and tools to help address ethical issues and ensure research is conducted ethically and respectfully. Findings of this study have informed research ethics training and publications. An online tool to help identify ethical issues and guide researchers towards relevant resources is under development.

This snapshot contains key messages, findings, implications for humanitarian policymakers and practitioners and recommendations for further research.

Photo: Research ethics training sessions at the HealthNetTPO Nepal offices in Kathmandu. Photo credit Dónal O'Mathúna