Presented by Professor Wendy J. Graham (University of Aberdeen) at the Public Engagement Workshop, 2-5 Dec. 2008, KwaZulu-Natal South Africa, http://scienceincommunity.wordpress.com/

1. Researchers are from Venus, policy makers from Mars Professor Wendy J Graham Wellcome Trust International Public Engagement Workshop: 3-5 December 2008, Africa Centre, UKZN

2. Researchers are from Venus. Policy makers are from Mars. Different worlds, different “communities”

4. The University of Aberdeen established the First Chair of Medicine in the English-speaking world, in 1497.

5. DR ALEXANDER GORDON (1752-1799) A Treatise on the Epidemic Puerperal Fever of Aberdeen: 1795

6. ~99.2% of maternal deaths occur in developing countries ~0.8% of maternal deaths occur in developed countries Estimated 536,000 maternal deaths each year: 98% preventable “ Maternal deaths: deaths during pregnancy, delivery, or up to 6 weeks after the end of pregnancy or delivery”

7. Millennium Development Goal 5 is off-track MDG5: 75% reduction in maternal mortality between 1990-2015 MDG 5 Target

8. “ The role of the scientist is to use research to ascertain the effectiveness of innovative policies and programs. This is in contrast to {their} role as advisor in which the scientist can indulge in over-advocacy ...”. Donald T Campbell 1988 The experimenting society.

9. Immpact is the international research I nitiative for M aternal M ortality P rogramme A ssessment Purpose: to improve the evidence-base for policy-makers through comprehensive evaluations of safe motherhood intervention strategies www.immpact-international.org

12. Immpact “closing the loop” Assessing policy-makers’ priorities for evidence Gathering & synthesizing evidence Translating & communicating evidence for decision-making Using evidence to inform the design, implementation & evaluation of enhanced strategies

13. Crucial translation step Research priority-setting Knowledge-generation & dissemination Evidence filtering & amplification Policy-making processes Adapted from: Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research. 2007. “ Translation { evidence filtering & amplification } is the conversion of findings from basic, clinical or epidemiological research into information, resources or tools that can be used to improve health.”

15. Demand for evidence is now more diverse Researchers “need” to work with and for a broader constituency – not just the Ministry of Health Media Advocates, civil society, NGOs, parliamentarians Research institutions Think tanks Funding bodies Government bodies

19. Researchers are from Venus. Policy-makers are from Mars. Communicators are from Pluto.

20. “ Tell us the good news”

21. “ Tell us the certainties – not the complexities” There is no magic bullet – or “shot in the arm” - for maternal mortality reduction

22. Serang and Pandeglang (2004-2006) * based on enumeration of all deaths (n= 474) and expected number of births in each village Relationship between maternal mortality & skilled attendant: Indonesia Richest Upper middle Low middle Poorest Wealth quartile No 29% Yes 71% No 67% Yes 33% No 83% Yes 17% No 90% Yes 10% Proportion attended by skilled attendant 257 (181-351) 202 (107-334) 280 (195-388) 778 (541-1076) 278 (201-373) 1218 (773-1830) 541 (420-684) 2303 (1487-3292) Maternal deaths per 100,000 live births* (95% CI)

23. “ Four births and a funeral” (or children sitting on their mother’s grave) WHO, 2004 “ We need powerful messages and imagery”

26. Researchers are from Venus. Policy-makers are from Mars. Communicators are from Pluto. Knowledge brokers are from……..?