Training for health services and systems research in Sub-Saharan Africa - a case study at four East and Southern African Universities

Human Resources for Health

James K Tumwine⁶  Celestino Obua¹  Merrick Zwarenstein³  Salla Atkins⁹  Myroslava Protsiv⁹  Newton Kumwenda⁷  Elia John Mmbaga⁴  Germana Henry Leyna⁴  Lumbwe Chola²  Lilian Dudley²  Freddie Bwanga⁸  David Guwatudde⁵ 

[1] Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, School of Biomedical Sciences, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda;Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Stellenbosch, Cape Town, South Africa;Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada;Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar-es-Salam, Tanzania;School of Public Health, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, PO Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda;Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, School of Medicine, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda;College of Medicine, University of Malawi, Blantyre, Malawi;Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Biomedical Sciences, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda;Department of Public Health Sciences, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77, Stockholm, Sweden

关键词: Sub-Saharan Africa;    training;    Health services and systems research;   

Others  :  822066
DOI  :  10.1186/1478-4491-11-68

 received in 2013-07-16, accepted in 2013-11-28,  发布年份 2013

【 摘 要 】

Background

The need to develop capacity for health services and systems research (HSSR) in low and middle income countries has been highlighted in a number of international forums. However, little is known about the level of HSSR training in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). We conducted an assessment at four major East and Southern African universities to describe: a) the numbers of HSSR PhD trainees at these institutions, b) existing HSSR curricula and mode of delivery, and c) motivating and challenging factors for PhD training, from the trainees’ experience.

Methods

PhD training program managers completed a pre-designed form about trainees enrolled since 2006. A desk review of existing health curricula was also conducted to identify HSSR modules being offered; and PhD trainees completed a self-administered questionnaire on motivating and challenging factors they may have experienced during their PhD training.

Results

Of the 640 PhD trainees enrolled in the health sciences since 2006, only 24 (3.8%) were in an HSSR field. None of the universities had a PhD training program focusing on HSSR. The 24 HSSR PhD trainees had trained in partnership with a university outside Africa. Top motivating factors for PhD training were: commitment of supervisors (67%), availability of scholarships (63%), and training attached to a research grant (25%). Top challenging factors were: procurement delays (44%), family commitments (38%), and poor Internet connection (35%).

Conclusion

The number of HSSR PhD trainees is at the moment too small to enable a rapid accumulation of the required critical mass of locally trained HSSR professionals to drive the much needed health systems strengthening and innovations in this region. Curricula for advanced HSSR training are absent, exposing a serious training gap for HSSR in this region.

【 授权许可】

   
2013 Guwatudde et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

【 图 表 】

Figure 1.

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