Developing the African national health research systems barometer
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Date
Authors
Kirigia, Joses Muthuri
Ota, Martin Okechukwu
Senkubuge, Flavia
Wiysonge, Charles Shey
Mayosi, Bongani M.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
BioMed Central
Abstract
BACKGROUND : A functional national health research system (NHRS) is crucial in strengthening a country’s health
system to promote, restore and maintain the health status of its population. Progress towards the goal of
universal health coverage in the post-2015 sustainable development agenda will be difficult for African
countries without strengthening of their NHRS to yield the required evidence for decision-making. This study
aims to develop a barometer to facilitate monitoring of the development and performance of NHRSs in the
African Region of WHO.
METHODS : The African national health research systems barometer algorithm was developed in response to a
recommendation of the African Advisory Committee for Health Research and Development of WHO. Survey
data collected from all the 47 Member States in the WHO African Region using a questionnaire were entered
into an Excel spreadsheet and analysed. The barometer scores for each country were calculated and the
performance interpreted according to a set of values ranging from 0% to 100%.
RESULTS : The overall NHRS barometer score for the African Region was 42%, which is below the average of
50%. Among the 47 countries, the average NHRS performance was less than 20% in 10 countries, 20–40% in
11 countries, 41–60% in 16 countries, 61–80% in nine countries, and over 80% in one country. The
performance of NHRSs in 30 (64%) countries was below 50%.
CONCLUSION : An African NHRS barometer with four functions and 17 sub-functions was developed to identify
the gaps in and facilitate monitoring of NHRS development and performance. The NHRS scores for the
individual sub-functions can guide policymakers to locate sources of poor performance and to design
interventions to address them.
Description
Additional file 1: National Health Research System sub-function, function
and overall barometer scores for each of the 47 countries of the African
Region. (DOCX 107 kb)
Keywords
National health research systems performance, Research for health governance, Research production and utilization, Research financing, Research coordination
Sustainable Development Goals
Citation
Kirigia, JM, Ota, MO, Senkubuge, F, Wiysonge, CS & Mayosi, BM 2016, 'Developing the African national health research systems barometer', Health Research Policy and Systems, vol. 14, art. #53, pp. 1-11.