Medical and Health Sciences in Developing Countries: Research Literature Review

Literature reviews hold significant importance in research conducted in developing countries as they serve as a foundation for understanding the existing knowledge and identifying research gaps. However, performing literature reviews in these contexts presents unique challenges, such as limited access to literature, inadequate infrastructure, funding constraints, language barriers, limited local research, absence of standardization, cultural variations, resource limitations for data collection, lack of expertise, political instability, and ethical considerations. To overcome these obstacles, researchers in developing countries should explore alternative sources of information, foster collaborations with others, broaden their search strategies, critically assess the quality of included studies, and actively seek training and mentorship opportunities. By addressing these challenges head-on, researchers can conduct comprehensive and high-quality literature reviews that contribute to the advancement of knowledge in their respective fields, despite the specific difficulties faced in their developing country contexts. This chapter aims to elucidate the research issues associated with literature reviews, emphasizing their significance, facilitators, barriers, challenges, and recommendations for best practices in developing countries.