During and After COVID-19: The Roles and Perceived Benefits of Virtual Initiatives in Building Resilient Global Health Partnerships

ABSTRACT

Background: Global Health Partnerships (GHPs) represent collaborative efforts towards training, research, and capacity building. Virtual GHP initiatives (VGHPIs) evolved to ensure GHP continuity during the COVID-19 pandemic, however, the current VGHPI landscape is unknown. This study aimed to increase understanding of the existing GHPs' perspectives on VGHPIs to inform future approaches for re-organization and reprioritization of GH activities. Methods: From 15 October to 30 November 2020, authors conducted an online, international survey using snowball sampling to assess pandemic-related changes in activities and document perceived acceptability and barriers to VGHPIs. Analysis stratified responses by country income classification and GHP type. The authors described categorical and continuous data using descriptive statistics. Chisquare tests were used to analyze categorical variables, with alpha set at 0.05. Results: A total of 128 respondents described 219 GHPs, with 82/128 (64%) responding to >1 GHP. Most GHPs (152/219, 69%) were transnational, of >5 years duration (157/219, 72%) and with bidirectional site visits (127/219, 60%);with HIC partners sending significantly more learners to LMIC partner sites (P = 0.0098). Within GHPs, respondents reported the pandemic was a significant disruptor to communication (122/219, 56%), funding (71/219, 32%), activities (195/219, 89%), and access to professional support (73/219, 33%). While 84/219 (38%) of GHPs described VGHPIs prior to the pandemic, respondents indicated that VGHPIs would be important to the majority (206/219, 94%) of GHPs moving forward. Available resources for VGHPIs were significantly different between LMIC and HIC respondents, as were their preference for VGHPIs, technological capacity, and acceptability of VGHPIs (P < 0.0001). There was no significant difference between groups regarding VGHPIs' perceived barriers. Conclusion: The pandemic disrupted many essential GHP elements, compounding on differences in the resources and preferences for VGHPIs between LMIC and HIC. VGHPIs have the potential to bridge existing gaps and maximize gains, bi-directionality, and equity of GHPs during and after COVID-19.