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Willemsen A, Wolka E, Assefa Y, Reid S. A 'training of trainers' programme for operational research: increasing capacity remotely. Glob Health Action 2024; 17:2297881. [PMID: 38224021 PMCID: PMC10791116 DOI: 10.1080/16549716.2023.2297881] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/16/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Operational research (OR) is a process to improve health system capacity by evaluating interventions to improve health delivery and outcomes. The World Health Organization (WHO) Structured Operational Research Training Initiative (SORT-IT) programme promotes how OR contributes to improved health care delivery and health outcomes. A partnership project between the International Institute of Primary Health Care (IPHCE) in Ethiopia and The University of Queensland (UQ) in Australia modified the SORT-IT programme to deliver a hybrid Training of Trainers programme and improve OR capacity. OBJECTIVE This study was performed to develop and evaluate the effectiveness of Train-the Trainers approach in building capability to expand the capacity of the IPHCE to deliver the SORT-IT programme. METHODS Recruitment of participants and training were aligned with the principles of the SORT-IT programme. Training was face-to-face for the first session with subsequent training sessions delivered via Zoom over a 13-week period. Participants were required to complete all activities in line with SORT-IT deliverables. Slide decks supporting the SORT-IT training videos were developed and adapted to the Ethiopian context. RESULTS Participants had diverse experience from programme directors to research officers. All training sessions were recorded and available for participants to watch and review when required. All participants completed OR protocols to the draft stage. Course evaluation revealed participants found the content and format of the training useful, pertinent, and interesting. CONCLUSION A hybrid model (face-to-face and video platform) for OR training was implemented. Managing contextual challenges such as information technology were managed easily by programme staff. Translating course requirements at a management level proved challenging with data collection for the protocols but provided insight into potential future challenges. This OR Training of Trainers course demonstrated that sharing of skills and knowledge can occur through a hybrid delivery model and contribute to developing capacity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela Willemsen
- School of Public Health, The University of Queensland, Herston, Queensland, Australia
| | - Eskinder Wolka
- National Primary Health Care, International Institute for Primary Health Care, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Yibeltal Assefa
- School of Public Health, The University of Queensland, Herston, Queensland, Australia
| | - Simon Reid
- School of Public Health, The University of Queensland, Herston, Queensland, Australia
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Hove J, D’Ambruoso L, Kahn K, Witter S, van der Merwe M, Mabetha D, Tembo K, Twine R. Lessons from community participation in primary health care and water resource governance in South Africa: a narrative review. Glob Health Action 2022; 15:2004730. [PMID: 34994680 PMCID: PMC8745361 DOI: 10.1080/16549716.2021.2004730] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2021] [Accepted: 11/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In South Africa, community participation has been embraced through the development of progressive policies to address past inequities. However, limited information is available to understand community involvement in priority setting, planning and decision-making in the development and implementation of public services. OBJECTIVE This narrative review aims to provide evidence on forms, extents, contexts and dynamics of community participation in primary health care (PHC) and water governance in South Africa and draw cross-cutting lessons. This paper focuses on health and water governance structures, such as health committees, Catchment Management Agencies (CMA), Water User Associations (WUAs), Irrigation Boards (IBs) and Community Management Forums (CMFs). METHODS Articles were sourced from Medline (Ovid), EMBASE, Google Scholar, Web of Science, WHO Global Health Library, Global Health and Science Citation Index between 1994 and 2020 reporting on community participation in health and water governance in South Africa. Databases were searched using key terms to identify relevant research articles and grey literature. Twenty-one articles were included and analysed thematically. RESULTS There is limited evidence on how health committees are functioning in all provinces in South Africa. Existing evidence shows that health committees are not functioning effectively due to lack of clarity on roles, autonomy, power, support, and capacity. There was slow progress in establishment of water governance structures, although these are autonomous and have mechanisms for democratic control, unlike health committees. Participation in CMAs/WUAs/IBs/CMFs is also not effective due to manipulation of spaces by elites, lack of capacity of previously disadvantaged individuals, inadequate incentives, and low commitment to the process by stakeholders. CONCLUSION Power and authority in decision-making, resources and accountability are key for effective community participation of marginalized people. Practical guidance is urgently required on how mandated participatory governance structures can be sustained and linked to wider governance systems to improve service delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Hove
- MRC/Wits Rural Public Health and Health Transitions Research Unit (Agincourt), School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Aberdeen Centre for Health Data Science (Achds) Institute of Applied Health Sciences, School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, University of Aberdeen, Scotland, UK
| | - Lucia D’Ambruoso
- MRC/Wits Rural Public Health and Health Transitions Research Unit (Agincourt), School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Aberdeen Centre for Health Data Science (Achds) Institute of Applied Health Sciences, School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, University of Aberdeen, Scotland, UK
- Department of Epidemiology and Global Health, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
- Public Health/Health Protection, National Health Service (NHS) Grampian, Scotland, UK
| | - Kathleen Kahn
- MRC/Wits Rural Public Health and Health Transitions Research Unit (Agincourt), School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Department of Epidemiology and Global Health, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
- International Network for the Demographic Evaluation of Populations and Their Health (Indepth), Accra, Ghana
| | - Sophie Witter
- Institute for Global Health and Development, Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Maria van der Merwe
- MRC/Wits Rural Public Health and Health Transitions Research Unit (Agincourt), School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Aberdeen Centre for Health Data Science (Achds) Institute of Applied Health Sciences, School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, University of Aberdeen, Scotland, UK
- Independent Consultant, White river, South Africa
| | - Denny Mabetha
- MRC/Wits Rural Public Health and Health Transitions Research Unit (Agincourt), School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Aberdeen Centre for Health Data Science (Achds) Institute of Applied Health Sciences, School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, University of Aberdeen, Scotland, UK
| | | | - Rhian Twine
- MRC/Wits Rural Public Health and Health Transitions Research Unit (Agincourt), School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
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