Publications

Introduction

Randomised clinical trials are an underused tool in global health research that have the potential to drive evidence-informed policy making in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). Panel 1 shows the findings of systematic searches of trials from two key areas of global health: maternal, newborn, and child health, and malaria. Most global health trials have a simple fixed design that uses two arms, is typically small in sample size (less than 100 patients), and is underpowered. Although many trials have been undertaken in these research areas, the information derived from these trials is inconsistent and might suggest the need for both better trial planning and coordination.