Conflict Zone

Conflict zones are characterized by dangerous human rights violations, ranging from violence, political unrest, militarization, and the breakdown of social infrastructures. Other types of disasters, such as an infectious disease outbreak or natural disaster, can further exacerbate the tensions of this setting. This makes conflict research extremely challenging in practical and ethical ways. For example, clinical research faces particular obstacles because of the uncertainty of its benefit and because it can interact poorly with social dysfunction and mistrust. Researchers should consider whether it is ethical to conduct a particular piece of research at all during a conflict or whether it should be conducted somewhere else or at another time. Still, there is strong evidence that research during conflicts provides invaluable and beneficial information best captured during the conflict period. The following are ethical considerations for research in conflict settings:

-Safety and security: the physical safety of participants, as well as researchers, translators, data collectors, etc., is of utmost importance. The research team should be well aware of any political permissions necessary to conduct the study and potential repercussions for individuals recruited to the study.

-Value of research: evaluate if the research question can be answered in a post-conflict setting and if the study provides a benefit without being coercive or exploitative.

-Design and implementation: when conflict is in a low to middle income country, funding mechanisms may rely on outside donors. It is important to adhere to local review board guidance and to also understand what social or cultural values should shape the research questions, reflecting the priorities of the affected community. Certain methodologies may pose more risk to participants (e.g., focus groups inherently lack privacy) or be practically difficult to carry out (e.g., intervention or randomized studies).

-Feasibility of study: researchers lack the ability to control conditions of research in conflict zones. Continuous study monitoring and up-to-date data analysis can be necessary, but difficult to implement.

-Consent: the ability to freely decide to participate in research during active conflict may not be safe or practical. This does not reflect negatively on the individual’s capacity, but rather, as with any active disaster, the circumstances make it difficult to engage in a robust informed consent process.