Article Category:
Research Article

Partnering to Improve Mentorship Capacity for Ugandan Reproductive Health Researchers: Program Description and Evaluation

Julie M. Buser Center for International Reproductive Health Training, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan;

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Ella August Center for International Reproductive Health Training, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan;
Department of Epidemiology, University of Michigan School of Public Health, PREPSS (Pre-Publication Support Service), Ann Arbor, Michigan;

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Faelan E. Jacobson-Davies Center for International Reproductive Health Training, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan;
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan;

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Felix Bongomin Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Gulu University, Gulu, Uganda;

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Edward Kumakech Department of Nursing and Midwifery, Lira University, Lira, Uganda;

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Rachel Gray Center for International Reproductive Health Training, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan;

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Pebalo Francis Pebolo Department of Reproductive Health, Faculty of Medicine, Gulu University, Gulu, Uganda

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Anna Grace Auma Department of Nursing and Midwifery, Lira University, Lira, Uganda;

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Tamrat Endale Center for International Reproductive Health Training, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan;

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Yolanda R. Smith Center for International Reproductive Health Training, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan;
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan;

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DOI:
https://doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.23-0459
Volume/Issue:
Ahead of Print
Open access
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Mentorship is essential to health researchers in achieving their full potential and advancing public health. In most low-resource settings, there is a paucity of training on how to be a successful mentor. The Center for International Reproductive Health Training at the University of Michigan conducted and evaluated a workshop at two universities in Uganda for mentors of new reproductive health research grant awardees. The program aimed to strengthen mentors’ mentorship skills and to identify ways to foster institutional support for mentoring. Mentors rated their post-training skills using a 5-point Likert scale (not skilled to extremely skilled) immediately and 3 months after the training. Ten of 19 mentors who participated in the training completed the evaluation. The majority were 41 to 50 years old, male, midcareer faculty. Immediately after the training, mentors rated themselves (mean ± SD) highest in knowledge of research ethics (4.4 ± 0.5), fostering independence in mentees (4.3 ± 0.9), and understanding the benefits of mentoring (3.9 ± 1.1). Mentors felt least confident in fostering institutional change to support mentorship (3.3 ± 0.8), communication (3.5 ± 0.5), and overcoming adversity (3.5 ± 0.8). The two most important things the mentors learned were how to appreciate and manage diversity and how they can benefit from mentorship. Barriers to mentoring that persisted after the program ended included lack of time and institutional resources. Enhancing mentorship training opportunities will foster a generation of scientists who are more supported, skilled, and productive in research, leading to better reproductive and public health outcomes in their communities.

Author Notes

Financial support: This research was funded with support from the Center for International Reproductive Health Training at the University of Michigan (CIRHT-UM).

Authors’ addresses: Julie M. Buser, Rachel Gray, and Tamrat Endale, Center for International Reproductive Health Training, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, E-mails: jbuser@umich.edu, grayra@med.umich.edu, and tawmicha@med.umich.edu. Ella August, Department of Epidemiology, University of Michigan School of Public Health, PREPSS (Pre-Publication Support Service), Ann Arbor, MI, E-mail: eaugust@umich.edu. Faelan E. Jacobson-Davies and Yolanda R. Smith, Center for International Reproductive Health Training, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, E-mails: jfaelan@med.umich.edu and ysmith@med.umich.edu. Felix Bongomin, Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Gulu University Faculty of Medicine, Gulu, Uganda, E-mail: drbongomin@gmail.com. Edward Kumakech and Anna Grace Auma, Department of Nursing and Midwifery, Lira University, Lira, Uganda, E-mails: edward.kumakech77@gmail.com and annakado4@gmail.com. Pebalo Francis Pebolo, Department of Reproductive Health, Gulu University Faculty of Medicine, Gulu, Uganda, E-mail: pebalopebolo@gmail.com.

Address correspondence to Julie M. Buser, Center for International Reproductive Health Training (CIRHT), University of Michigan, North Ingalls Building Suite 947, Ann Arbor, MI 48105. E-mail: jbuser@umich.edu
Copyright:
© The author(s) 2023
Received:
12 Jul 2023
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Accepted:
21 Sep 2023
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Published Online:
20 Nov 2023
Cover The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
Print ISSN:
0002-9637
Online ISSN:
1476-1645
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