Research among undergraduate biomedical students in Cameroon: contextual barriers, room for improvement

Abstract

There is overwhelming evidence that the highest burden of disease worldwide is concentrated in low and middle-income countries (LMICs) and responsible for the high mortality in these countries.  This high mortality rates have strongly been associated with poor health care systems and sub-optimal quality of health care delivery. The poor quality of health care delivery is powered by a lack of research evidence. Evidence can only be gotten by conducting high-quality research and generating local data based on peculiar health problems that can be used to inform guidance.  Encouraging research among students early during training has been an effective strategy in stimulating interest in future research. This correspondence highlights some contextual barriers to clinical research practice among undergraduate biomedical students in Cameroon and suggests ways to improve the situation.