Exploring the Critical Role of Nurses in Promoting and Achieving Global Health Equity: Challenges, Opportunities, and Strategies for the Future

Abstract

Background: Global Health Partnerships (GHPs) play a crucial role in addressing health inequities and are essential for advancing the Sustainable Development Goals. However, these partnerships often grapple with historical disparities and power imbalances, particularly between North and South entities.

Methods: This study employed a critical interpretive synthesis to analyze peer-reviewed literature published between 2010 and 2023, focusing on GHPs. A systematic scoping review was conducted across six databases: Medline, Embase, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Web of Science, and Scopus, using keywords related to global health and partnership evaluations. The selected articles were evaluated based on their relevance to North-South partnerships.

Results: The analysis revealed significant variability in how GHPs were evaluated, with a predominant focus on the operational aspects of Southern partners rather than equitable power dynamics. The literature often highlighted the altruistic intentions of GHPs while neglecting the underlying structural inequities that persist. Key themes identified included the importance of initial collaboration stages, governance challenges, operational transparency, and the need for equitable resource distribution. Notably, the authors associated with these studies were predominantly from the Global North, which may influence the framing of partnership dynamics.

Conclusion: While GHPs have the potential to promote health equity, their effectiveness is often undermined by persistent inequities in power and resource allocation. A more equitable approach is necessary to ensure that GHPs genuinely address the needs of disadvantaged populations. Future research should emphasize critical power analyses and the incorporation of Southern perspectives in the evaluation of GHPs.