Skip to main content
Canadian Journal of Public Health = Revue Canadienne de Santé Publique logoLink to Canadian Journal of Public Health = Revue Canadienne de Santé Publique
. 2016 Sep 21;107(4-5):e362–e365. [Article in French] doi: 10.17269/CJPH.107.5533

Quatre principes de recherche pour comprendre les défis des systèmes de santé des pays à faible et moyen revenu

Emilie Robert 15,25,, Valéry Ridde 35
PMCID: PMC6972251  PMID: 31820357

Abstract

In this commentary, we propose four principles for health policy and systems research in low- and middle-income countries that we think should be ingrained in research practices in this field. These principles are: complementarity of analytical perspectives; interdisciplinarity; cross-cutting knowledge; and theoretical and conceptual foundations. We illustrate each principle with the study of two reforms implemented in sub-Saharan Africa: user fee exemption policies and results-based financing. Taking these four principles into account allows a broader understanding of health systems challenges, and a nuanced approach to reflecting on each of the investigated dimensions. The examples demonstrate the interest of adopting a holistic and systemic approach to researching health systems and policies to go beyond the dominant technocratic vision, often focused on their performance and financing.

Key words: Health systems, health policy, Africa, research, low- and middle-income countries

Footnotes

Remerciements: Mme Robert détient une bourse de recherche des Instituts de recherche en santé du Canada (IRSC). M. Ridde est titulaire d’une chaire de recherche en santé publique appliquée financée par les IRSC (CPP-137901).

Conflit d’intérêt: Aucun à déclarer.

Références

  • 1.Plsek PE, Greenhalgh T. Complexity science: The challenge of complexity in health care. BMJ. 2001;323(7313):625–28. doi: 10.1136/bmj.323.7313.625. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 2.Buse K, Mays N, Walt G. Making Health Policy: Understanding Public Health. Berkshire, England: Open University Press; 2005. p. 119. [Google Scholar]
  • 3.Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research. What is HPSR?: WHO, n.d. Sur Internet: http://www.who.int/alliance-hpsr/about/hpsr/en/ (consulté le 30 mai 2016).
  • 4.Walt G, Shiftman J, Schneider H, Murray SF, Brugha R, Gilson L. ‘Doing’ health policy analysis: Methodological and conceptual reflections and challenges. Health Policy Plan. 2008;23(5):308–17. doi: 10.1093/heapol/czn024. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 5.Walt G, Gilson L. Can frameworks inform knowledge about health policy processes? Reviewing health policy papers on agenda setting and testing them against a specific priority-setting framework. Health Policy Plan. 2014;29(Suppl3):iii6–22. doi: 10.1093/heapol/czu081. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 6.Ghaffar A, Gilson L, Tomson G, Viergever R, Rottingen JA. Where is the policy in health policy and systems research agenda? Bull World Health Organ. 2016;94(4):306–8. doi: 10.2471/BLT.15.156281. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 7.Robert E. Supprimer les paiements directs des soins en Afrique subsaharienne: débat international, défis de mise en oeuvre et revue réaliste du recours aux soins. Montréal, QC: Université de Montréal; 2015. p. 310. [Google Scholar]
  • 8.Gilson L. Health Policy and Systems Research: A Methodology Reader. Geneva, Switzerland: Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research/World Health Organization; 2012. p. 427. [Google Scholar]
  • 9.Resweber J-P. Les enjeux de l’interdisciplinarité. Questions de communication. 2011;19:171–200. doi: 10.4000/questionsdecommunication.2661. [DOI] [Google Scholar]
  • 10.Frediani AA. Sen’s capability approach as a framework to the practice of development. Dev Pract. 2010;20(2):173–87. doi: 10.1080/09614520903564181. [DOI] [Google Scholar]
  • 11.Gilson L, Raphaely N. The terrain of health policy analysis in low and middle income countries: A review of published literature 1994–2007. Health Policy Plan. 2008;23(5):294–307. doi: 10.1093/heapol/czn019. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 12.Robert E, Samb OM, Ridde V, Marchai B. Recours aux soins gratuits en Afrique subsaharienne: Une revue réaliste. 2015. [Google Scholar]
  • 13.Gilson L. Qualitative research synthesis for health policy analysis: What does it entail and what does it offer? Health Policy Plan. 2014;29(Suppl3):iii1–iii5. doi: 10.1093/heapol/czu121. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 14.Béland D, Ridde V. Ideas and policy implementation: Understanding the resistance against free health care in Africa. Global Health Governance, in press.
  • 15.Grundy J, Hoban E, Allender S, Annear P. The inter-section of political history and health policy in Asia–The historical foundations for health policy analysis. Soc Sci Med. 2014;117:150–59. doi: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2014.07.047. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 16.Ridde V. Policy implementation in an African state: An extension of Kingdon’s multiple-streams approach. Public Administration. 2009;87(4):938–54. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-9299.2009.01792.x. [DOI] [Google Scholar]
  • 17.Robert E, Ridde V. L’approche réaliste pour l’évaluation de programmes et la revue systématique: de la théorie à la pratique. Mesure et évaluation en éducation. 2013;36(3):79–108. doi: 10.7202/1025741ar. [DOI] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Canadian Journal of Public Health = Revue Canadienne de Santé Publique are provided here courtesy of Springer

RESOURCES