Projects

Project Details:

In Honduras, Red Cross is working in a region shaped by a significant level of gang violence. The organisation wanted to understand how that environment was affecting access to healthcare, to help plan for further resource allocation. RREAL designed a targeted study to gather the information, while minimising the time researchers spent in the field. This was due to safety considerations for both the researchers and the people participating in the study, as the context meant there were risks to both. RREAL needed to design a robust academic study that took into account the difficult environment. 

When conducting research in complex settings, a capable contracting and legal team with international experience like UCLC’s is of the essence, UCLC’s adaptability to changing scenarios and clear communication with the client enabled us to implement the studies to the highest standard. Being able to develop long-term relationships with humanitarian aid agencies like Red Cross helps academia be present where knowledge is needed most.”  
- Dr Norha Vera San Juan, Co-Director of RREAL.

As a result of both studies, Red Cross increased its research capacity and was able to adjust its service offering in response to the findings. 

This Mixed Methods Rapid Appraisal consisted of qualitative interviews with health personnel and community members, alongside a quantitative epidemiological study analysing the number of medical appointments, diagnoses, and patient characteristics in different communities throughout 2022.

This project was actively guided and conducted in collaboration with Honduras Red Cross. To our knowledge, this is the only study of its kind in San Pedro Sula.

More information (Spanish).