Date of Award

10-2025

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Bioethics

First Advisor

Dr. Rozina Karmaliani

Second Advisor

Dr. Nino Paichadze

Third Advisor

Dr. Sumaira Panjwani

Department

Educational Development

Abstract

This study explores how ethical values are integrated into public health research in Pakistan, using the INSPQ Framework of Values as an analytical lens. An exploratory qualitative design was adopted, involving semi-structured interviews with public health researchers, review of institutional ethics documents, and analysis of relevant published studies. Data were coded and analyzed thematically using Braun and Clarke’s six-phase framework, and findings were triangulated to identify convergences and divergences across the different sources. The results reveal a consistent emphasis on procedural ethics, particularly ERC approval, informed consent practices, and confidentiality safeguards. However, a clear gap emerged between formal ethical expectations and their implementation in real-world research settings. While institutional documents and published literature predominantly reflect structured compliance, researchers described a more complex landscape shaped by cultural norms, community mistrust, gender dynamics, literacy barriers, and resource constraints. These contextual factors significantly influence participants’ understanding, voluntariness, and engagement in research. Triangulation demonstrated strong similarity in the recognition of ethical requirements but notable differences in how cultural sensitivity, community involvement, and ongoing ethical oversight are practiced or reported. The study highlights that ethical integration in Pakistan remains uneven, constrained by systemic limitations such as limited ERC follow-up, inadequate ethics training, and underdeveloped community engagement mechanisms. These insights are highly relevant for Pakistan and other lower-middle-income countries, where research environments require not only procedural compliance but also culturally grounded, contextually responsive ethical practices. By situating global ethical frameworks within local realities, the study contributes to strengthening ethical governance and enhancing the quality and integrity of public health research in resource-limited settings

First Page

1

Last Page

110

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