Verbal Autopsy with Participatory Action Research (VAPAR): expanding the knowledge base through partnerships for action on health equity
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Aberdeen
Department Name: Sch of Medicine, Medical Sci & Nutrition
Abstract
Health systems can be considered as the products of human relationships: between patients and health workers, managers and policy makers, communities and governments. As a whole, these relationships establish norms of who is eligible for care and what can be expected from the health system. In poor countries where health services are weak and under-funded, care that is unaffordable and unavailable can become socially normal. Communities and health workers have substantial knowledge of these norms and interactions and how health policy is 'brought alive' through them. Their voices are often overlooked in the routine design and delivery of services however.
The project will address this situation by institutionalising processes to: (1) strengthen systems to record and report on deaths, their causes and circumstances; (2) enable the voices of people excluded from access to health systems on their needs and priorities for action, and; (3) act on this information with health workers, managers, planners and policy makers. The process will collect data, analyse, plan and act, and demonstrate an ability to bring about change in partnership with those for whom the situations are most directly relevant. Practical research that is understood and 'owned' by end users in an action-oriented process will strengthen relationships between patients, health workers and policy makers to support and sustain positive change.
The research builds on development work providing actionable health information for poor and rural groups in South Africa. Rural villages in South Africa represent many settings in the region, with deeply entrenched poverty, inequality, avoidable illness, and weak health systems where many deaths go undocumented and uncounted. The development work has adapted Verbal Autopsy, a method used in many poor countries to establish the causes of death for people who die without a doctor present. The research has introduced a system to record new information in Verbal Autopsy on factors such as transport and hospital admissions. In developing countries these processes can play a critical role in survival, and documenting them provides important information for health service provision.
The development work has also tapped into local knowledge on long standing health problems by building partnerships with communities. Using Participatory Action Research, we have developed understandings of the social issues affecting health, and how these affect people's interactions with care. Participatory Action Research provides a route to involve those in the greatest need in health services. This can empower disadvantaged groups to have more of a say in health systems, in turn strengthening people's abilities to protect and promote their health. We have worked with the health authority throughout, considering what the data are telling us, and how changes can be implemented to respond to the issues identified.
The project will extend the development work into an ongoing system of collaborative problem solving, taking data to those who organise and provide services, and working at different levels to understand and enable what is required for change. The work will strengthen existing partnerships with communities, policy makers and planners, and develop new relationships with health workers and clinic managers to act on the evidence towards shared goals. The research will embed a partnerships culture to generate and use information on the realities of health workers and patients to improve care, strengthening access to the health system, achieving improved outcomes and fostering equity in health.
The work has been done with a research centre in South Africa established for over 20 years. A team of researchers and policy makers from universities and health authorities in developing and developed countries who have shaped health research and policy in Africa for over 25 years have come together to lead the five year programme.
The project will address this situation by institutionalising processes to: (1) strengthen systems to record and report on deaths, their causes and circumstances; (2) enable the voices of people excluded from access to health systems on their needs and priorities for action, and; (3) act on this information with health workers, managers, planners and policy makers. The process will collect data, analyse, plan and act, and demonstrate an ability to bring about change in partnership with those for whom the situations are most directly relevant. Practical research that is understood and 'owned' by end users in an action-oriented process will strengthen relationships between patients, health workers and policy makers to support and sustain positive change.
The research builds on development work providing actionable health information for poor and rural groups in South Africa. Rural villages in South Africa represent many settings in the region, with deeply entrenched poverty, inequality, avoidable illness, and weak health systems where many deaths go undocumented and uncounted. The development work has adapted Verbal Autopsy, a method used in many poor countries to establish the causes of death for people who die without a doctor present. The research has introduced a system to record new information in Verbal Autopsy on factors such as transport and hospital admissions. In developing countries these processes can play a critical role in survival, and documenting them provides important information for health service provision.
The development work has also tapped into local knowledge on long standing health problems by building partnerships with communities. Using Participatory Action Research, we have developed understandings of the social issues affecting health, and how these affect people's interactions with care. Participatory Action Research provides a route to involve those in the greatest need in health services. This can empower disadvantaged groups to have more of a say in health systems, in turn strengthening people's abilities to protect and promote their health. We have worked with the health authority throughout, considering what the data are telling us, and how changes can be implemented to respond to the issues identified.
The project will extend the development work into an ongoing system of collaborative problem solving, taking data to those who organise and provide services, and working at different levels to understand and enable what is required for change. The work will strengthen existing partnerships with communities, policy makers and planners, and develop new relationships with health workers and clinic managers to act on the evidence towards shared goals. The research will embed a partnerships culture to generate and use information on the realities of health workers and patients to improve care, strengthening access to the health system, achieving improved outcomes and fostering equity in health.
The work has been done with a research centre in South Africa established for over 20 years. A team of researchers and policy makers from universities and health authorities in developing and developed countries who have shaped health research and policy in Africa for over 25 years have come together to lead the five year programme.
Technical Summary
Health systems are increasingly considered in terms beyond 'building blocks' models, as complex, adaptive, human and relational. Despite the conceptual advances, people-centered health systems research methods remain underdeveloped. The proposed work will connect two issues: the lack of information on the health of people excluded from access to health systems, and the low utilisation of research evidence by health systems stakeholders. The proposal is to institutionalise a process to strengthen data on mortality registration, combine with local knowledge, and interpret, plan and act on this basis in the health system at different levels. The method combines Verbal Autopsy (VA) with Participatory Action Research (PAR). VA is a method to determine levels, causes and circumstances of deaths. In PAR, communities organise evidence for action. 3 phases are proposed. In Phase 1, a series of 3 reflection and action cycles will be conducted to generate evidence, analyse, plan and act. Data will be generated on levels, causes and circumstances of deaths (using VA) and on health needs and priorities for action (using PAR) with communities. Data will be analysed with provincial level policy makers, action plans will be developed and implemented by district-level practitioners, and progress will be re-assessed in subsequent cycles. In Phase 2, participants and researchers will evaluate the process using realist and political economy methods to understand changes in care, outcomes and progress towards health equity. In Phase 3, sustainability and transferability will be developed with authorities, research and technical groups, health systems stakeholders and communities in the study site, and to the public. The output will be a process based on international standards, that is contextually relevant in health systems at different levels, and capable of translating local priorities into actionable agendas for health systems strengthening as a means towards health equity.
Planned Impact
The main beneficiaries will be people systematically and unfairly excluded from access to health systems. The process will routinely produce information on their needs and priorities for equity-informed decision-making. Generating and embedding this information in an action-oriented process at different levels of the health system will achieve impact through inclusive knowledge production and exchange, fostering trust and cooperation towards common goals, and strengthening service organisation and delivery to improve health outcomes and health equity.
The process will benefit health systems at different levels by fostering engagement and ownership in research. Beneficiaries will be health workers, facility managers and community workers at the 'coalface' of the system who make daily decisions about eligibility and access in resource-scarce, demand-intensive environments. Empowering practitioners to be involved in policy creation, implementation and evaluation with communities they serve and stakeholders at higher levels will acknowledge and employ these realities for positive change. At higher levels of the system, the process will build cultures of HPSR to provide clear information on what is to be done by whom, with which means and within what constraints, informing the prioritisation of interventions and policy directives enabling assessment of and advocacy for resources.
A further major intended impact is the provision of a sustainable process. The research will generate and use co-constructed evidence of practical relevance for equity-informed systems strengthening on an ongoing basis. The methods and choices of topics will be led by participants and during the project, the process will shift from a research-based to a country-led endeavour. This will foster ownership for sustainability, address disconnects between policy and implementation, integrate research across sectors, and provide practical approaches to deal with the complexities of implementation that limit data and action. The process will be grounded in the needs of end users to illuminate and harness implementation in an integrated and sustainable system of change.
The research will strengthen capacity for health policy and systems research (HPSR). HPSR is a relatively new field, viewing health systems as complex adaptive systems, using relativist enquiry paradigms, value-based approaches, and intersectoral collaborations with a commitment to action. Despite its relevance for resilient and equitable health systems, methods remain underdeveloped. Building and serving practitioner networks is a further intended impact in this context. Teaching and training resources for health systems practitioners and researchers will be developed and disseminated to build communities of practice and encourage collaboration between communities, service providers and researchers.
Impact will be realised by developing methods and capacities for use within and beyond the study setting. A range of engagements with governments, health systems, research networks, HPSR practitioners, civil society and public engagement groups outside the study setting are planned to promote collaborative HPSR for equity in health systems. Interest in the research to date from research groups, the media, communities and health system stakeholders suggests demand for these.
Multi-faceted engagement, fostering collaboration where actors are united by overall goals and values will accommodate different perspectives and extend impacts overall. The work will build on partnerships with targeted activities throughout. New forms of engagement will also be explored by reaching out to others without prior exposure to the work, including the public, politicians and the media. We will innovate with digital technologies, online and social media, social networks and face-to-face engagement. Targeting these groups with these activities will maximise collaborative opportunities and impacts.
The process will benefit health systems at different levels by fostering engagement and ownership in research. Beneficiaries will be health workers, facility managers and community workers at the 'coalface' of the system who make daily decisions about eligibility and access in resource-scarce, demand-intensive environments. Empowering practitioners to be involved in policy creation, implementation and evaluation with communities they serve and stakeholders at higher levels will acknowledge and employ these realities for positive change. At higher levels of the system, the process will build cultures of HPSR to provide clear information on what is to be done by whom, with which means and within what constraints, informing the prioritisation of interventions and policy directives enabling assessment of and advocacy for resources.
A further major intended impact is the provision of a sustainable process. The research will generate and use co-constructed evidence of practical relevance for equity-informed systems strengthening on an ongoing basis. The methods and choices of topics will be led by participants and during the project, the process will shift from a research-based to a country-led endeavour. This will foster ownership for sustainability, address disconnects between policy and implementation, integrate research across sectors, and provide practical approaches to deal with the complexities of implementation that limit data and action. The process will be grounded in the needs of end users to illuminate and harness implementation in an integrated and sustainable system of change.
The research will strengthen capacity for health policy and systems research (HPSR). HPSR is a relatively new field, viewing health systems as complex adaptive systems, using relativist enquiry paradigms, value-based approaches, and intersectoral collaborations with a commitment to action. Despite its relevance for resilient and equitable health systems, methods remain underdeveloped. Building and serving practitioner networks is a further intended impact in this context. Teaching and training resources for health systems practitioners and researchers will be developed and disseminated to build communities of practice and encourage collaboration between communities, service providers and researchers.
Impact will be realised by developing methods and capacities for use within and beyond the study setting. A range of engagements with governments, health systems, research networks, HPSR practitioners, civil society and public engagement groups outside the study setting are planned to promote collaborative HPSR for equity in health systems. Interest in the research to date from research groups, the media, communities and health system stakeholders suggests demand for these.
Multi-faceted engagement, fostering collaboration where actors are united by overall goals and values will accommodate different perspectives and extend impacts overall. The work will build on partnerships with targeted activities throughout. New forms of engagement will also be explored by reaching out to others without prior exposure to the work, including the public, politicians and the media. We will innovate with digital technologies, online and social media, social networks and face-to-face engagement. Targeting these groups with these activities will maximise collaborative opportunities and impacts.
Organisations
- University of Aberdeen (Lead Research Organisation)
- Faculty of Public Health (Collaboration)
- Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh (Collaboration)
- NHS GRAMPIAN (Collaboration)
- Mpumalanga Department of Health (Collaboration)
- Stellenbosch University (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM (Collaboration)
- Electoral Reform Society (Collaboration)
- University of Amsterdam (Collaboration)
- University of Limpopo (Collaboration)
- University of Stirling (Collaboration)
- University College London (Collaboration)
- Health Systems Global (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF THE WESTERN CAPE (Collaboration)
- Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD (Collaboration)
- Aga Khan University (Collaboration)
- Scottish Parliament (Collaboration)
- Training and Research Support Centre (Collaboration)
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) (Collaboration)
- University of Global Health Equity (Collaboration)
- Statistics South Africa (Project Partner)
- World Health Organization (Project Partner)
- Indepth Network (Project Partner)
- Code for South Africa (Project Partner)
Publications
Van Der Merwe M
(2021)
Collective reflections on the first cycle of a collaborative learning platform to strengthen rural primary healthcare in Mpumalanga, South Africa.
in Health research policy and systems
Wariri O
(2017)
Initiating a participatory action research process in the Agincourt health and socio-demographic surveillance site.
in Journal of global health
Description | The VAPAR process 2017-22 as approximately at mid point in 2020. Our activities are currently underway connecting service users and providers to generate and act on research evidence of practical, local relevance. We have published several papers since March 2019 on our process. Full details can be found at www.vapar.org 2020 Witter S, Van der Merwe M, Twine R, Mabetha D, Hove J, Goosen G and D'Ambruoso L. Verbal autopsy with participatory action research (VAPAR) programme in Mpumalanga, South Africa: protocol for evaluation. BMJ Open, 2020;10:3036597. Oladeinde O, Mabetha D, Twine R, Hove J, Van der Merwe M, Byass P, Witter S, Kahn K and D'Ambruoso L. Progressing participatory action research to reduce alcohol and other drug abuse in rural South Africa: reflections on an action and learning process. Global Health Action (accepted for publication on 30 January 2020). DOI: 10.1080/16549716.2020.1726722. 2019 Hussain-Alkhateeb L, D'Ambruoso L, Tollman S, Kahn K, Van Der Merwe M, Twine R, Schiöler L & Petzold M (2019). Enhancing the value of mortality data for health systems: adding Circumstances Of Mortality CATegories (COMCATs) to deaths investigated by verbal autopsy. Global Health Action 12(1):1680068. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/16549716.2019.1680068 D'Ambruoso L, Van Der Merwe, M, Wariri O, Byass P, Goosen G, Kahn K, Masinga S, Mokoena V, Spies B, Tollman S, Witter S, Twine R (2019). Rethinking collaboration: developing a learning platform to address under-5 mortality in Mpumalanga province, South Africa. Health Policy and Planning 34(6):418-429. https://academic.oup.com/heapol/article/34/6/418/5523687 Hove J, D'Ambruoso L, Mabetha D, Van Der Merwe M, Byass P, Kahn K, Khosa S, Witter S, Twine R (2019). "Water is life": developing community participation for clean water in rural South Africa. BMJ Global Health 4(3): e001377. https://gh.bmj.com/content/4/3/e001377 Byass P, Hussain-Alkhateeb L, D'Ambruoso L, Clark S, Davies J, Fottrell E, Bird J, Kabudula C, Tollman S, Kahn K, Schiöler, Petzold M (2019). An integrated approach to processing WHO-2016 verbal autopsy data: the InterVA-5 model. BMC Medicine 17:102. https://bmcmedicine.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12916-019-1333-6 Edem I, Dare A, Byass P, D'Ambruoso L, Leather A, Kahn K, Tollman S, Whitaker J, Davies J (2019). External injuries and avoidable deaths in Agincourt, South Africa. BMJ Open 9(6): e027576. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/9/6/e027576 |
Exploitation Route | The main beneficiaries will be people systematically and unfairly excluded from access to health systems. The process will routinely produce information on their needs and priorities for equity-informed decision-making. Generating and embedding this information in an action-oriented process at different levels of the health system will achieve impact through inclusive knowledge production and exchange, fostering trust and cooperation towards common goals, and strengthening service organisation and delivery to improve health outcomes and health equity. The process will benefit health systems at different levels by fostering engagement and ownership in research. Beneficiaries will be health workers, facility managers and community workers at the 'coalface' of the system who make daily decisions about eligibility and access in resource-scarce, demand-intensive environments. Empowering practitioners to be involved in policy creation, implementation and evaluation with communities they serve and stakeholders at higher levels will acknowledge and employ these realities for positive change. At higher levels of the system, the process will build cultures of HPSR to provide clear information on what is to be done by whom, with which means and within what constraints, informing the prioritisation of interventions and policy directives enabling assessment of and advocacy for resources. A further major intended impact is the provision of a sustainable process. The research will generate and use co-constructed evidence of practical relevance for equity-informed systems strengthening on an ongoing basis. The methods and choices of topics will be led by participants and during the project, the process will shift from a research-based to a country-led endeavour. This will foster ownership for sustainability, address disconnects between policy and implementation, integrate research across sectors, and provide practical approaches to deal with the complexities of implementation that limit data and action. The process will be grounded in the needs of end users to illuminate and harness implementation in an integrated and sustainable system of change. The research will strengthen capacity for health policy and systems research (HPSR). HPSR is a relatively new field, viewing health systems as complex adaptive systems, using relativist enquiry paradigms, value-based approaches, and intersectoral collaborations with a commitment to action. Despite its relevance for resilient and equitable health systems, methods remain underdeveloped. Building and serving practitioner networks is a further intended impact in this context. Teaching and training resources for health systems practitioners and researchers will be developed and disseminated to build communities of practice and encourage collaboration between communities, service providers and researchers. Impact will be realised by developing methods and capacities for use within and beyond the study setting. A range of engagements with governments, health systems, research networks, HPSR practitioners, civil society and public engagement groups outside the study setting are planned to promote collaborative HPSR for equity in health systems. Interest in the research to date from research groups, the media, communities and health system stakeholders suggests demand for these. Multi-faceted engagement, fostering collaboration where actors are united by overall goals and values will accommodate different perspectives and extend impacts overall. The work will build on partnerships with targeted activities throughout. New forms of engagement will also be explored by reaching out to others without prior exposure to the work, including the public, politicians and the media. We will innovate with digital technologies, online and social media, social networks and face-to-face engagement. Targeting these groups with these activities will maximise collaborative opportunities and impacts. |
Sectors | Communities and Social Services/Policy Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software) Healthcare |
URL | http://www.vapar.org |
Description | Strategic health systems alliances Research process and outputs have been utilised through which we have established conducive working relationships with the Department of Health (DoH) at all levels, aligning to DoH priorities and providing detailed input on local health concerns. Following a collective evaluation in 2019, the DoH endorsed embedding the intervention into routine processes of primary health care (PHC) planning and review at district and sub-district levels. Adaptions supporting Community Health Workers (CHWs) in the context of COVID-19: In 2020, the VAPAR intervention was adapted with local service users and providers to be of practical relevance in the pandemic. We integrated a community mobilisation training package to build CHW capacities in rapid evidence generation and local action: further supporting generation and use of evidence in service delivery. The adaption has been evaluated by district health system stakeholders to be positively impactful in empowering and enabling CHWs to mobilise communities and rapidly generate evidence on local situations, widening capabilities for local decision-making, and integration into routine processes of formal health systems governance was supported. Aligned to local priorities, the adaptations support contextual, collaborative problem-solving, taking data to those who organise and provide services, and working at different levels to understand and enable change. More generally, the intervention contributes to collective responses based in solidarity and shared rights and responsibilities for health centralising health equity enabling constructive dialogue to build relationships critical for enabling shared responsibilities. The adaptations have promoted embedded research as part of routine decision-making and implementation, centralising universal, community-based primary health care, and building the connections, relationships and trust. Sustainability and capability building Based on the experience of the adaptations (outlined above) we have received a request from the Mpumalanga DoH for support to scale the intervention from the study population (population 114,000) to the district (population 1.7 million). This is a significant opportunity for demand-driven uptake and impact. We also support the provincial research committee in strategy development and training, and have given evidence to a Ministerial Committee for child wellbeing. Previous entry Details of emerging economic and societal impact arising from the award that you are reporting on (including how it has evolved) In South Africa, we have evidenced that Department of Health stakeholders regard the VAPAR programme as appropriate and relevant to promoting community participation in the health system. Provincial and national stakeholders noted that the mandated structures and processes for community engagement in departmental and governmental prescripts (e.g. hospital boards and clinic committees) do not always function optimally. This was identified as an area where the VAPAR programme could contribute, as an alternative model for community participation in routine health system processes. It was noted that VAPAR could usefully focus on supporting engagement between communities and authorities for collective planning and implementation of primary health care services and be integrated into routine provincial health system processes to avoid creating a parallel process or adding burdens to the stressed system. In this regard, levels (e.g. provincial, district or sub-district structures) and programmes or sections within the health system with whom to engage were identified during the provincial workshop as a critical element in order to position VAPAR as a distinct approach to that of conventional development partners operating in parallel processes. This could be achieved through a two-way integration, with VAPAR stakeholders participating in routine planning and review activities in the DOH and officials from DOH, specifically frontline PHC officials, being involved in the VAPAR process. VAPAR could thereby contribute to community engagement activities mandated in initiatives such as Ideal Clinics. A summary of how the findings from your award are impacting the public, private or third/voluntary sectors, and elsewhere Overall, the learning platform embedded within the local health system and integrated with routine planning and review processes is regarded as a novel and relevant approach to facilitating collaborative learning and community participation in health systems. This learning platform has the potential to address exclusion from access to health systems by connecting service users and providers to generate and act on research evidence of practical, local relevance. Stakeholders were appreciative of the programme in terms of the data and process generated. The programme was regarded as unique in its design, through the participatory approach and extensive involvement of community representatives throughout the process, as well as the link to population data. Some impacts were noted with regards to engagement between health system stakeholders as well as further potential for impact on health system organisation, policy and planning and ultimately health outcomes through this collaborative learning platform. The programme has been adapted to respond by aligning the VAPAR programme to key strategic operational levels in the provincial health system, with skills exchange on community engagement processes and techniques, in response to the needs of stakeholders within the collaborative learning platform at community, sub-district, district and provincial level. Challenges overcome to achieve impact The VAPAR platform is built on trust and collaboration between stakeholders, often lacking between communities and health systems, which is increasingly important at a time of global pandemics and health emergencies. During lockdown in 2020, we reflected and consulted with community stakeholders, government officials and new multisectoral resilience fora on district health system priorities, and on adapting the existing process in the context of the pandemic. The exercise revealed that in communities, awareness of the virus is not accompanied by understandings of regulations and measures implemented by different actors and services to reduce transmission. The exercise also revealed that, while community health workers (CHWs) are seen as the first line response by service users, providers, planners and managers, this workforce requires considerable support to effectively engage with rural communities. On this basis, the process was adapted with three objectives to: (1) contribute to building CHW capacities in rapid evidence generation on local health issues in terms of burden and determinants of disease, the human experience of that burden, and on feasible local action; (2) support utilisation of this evidence in public sector planning and management processes in the district health system, specifically in routine primary health care (PHC) planning and review, exploring the potential to influence PHC planning and processes; and (3) further develop multisectoral engagement and collective action supporting community responses addressing social determinants. There was timely and decisive action to the first wave of the pandemic in South Africa. As the pandemic plays out, multiple, competing challenges related to issues including the lifting of restrictions, variants of the virus and vaccine preparedness necessitate new forms of cooperative, real-time health systems and policy learning. The VAPAR approach is focussed on supporting community engagement, generating and taking evidence to those who organise and provide health and other public services, and working at different levels to understand and enable change |
First Year Of Impact | 2021 |
Sector | Communities and Social Services/Policy,Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software),Healthcare |
Impact Types | Societal Policy & public services |
Description | Associated Press Interview with L D'Ambruoso on Verbal Autopsy |
Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
Impact | VAPAR PI interviewed for article entitled 'Verbal autopsies used in push to better track global deaths' wide international reach |
URL | https://apnews.com/8368ad6b33604514918c4bdee12c6408 |
Description | Collaborate with Mpumalanga Department Health (District and sub-district levels) to train CHWs in rapid PAR methods |
Geographic Reach | Local/Municipal/Regional |
Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
Impact | At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, we codesigned a VAPAR training intervention with the district health system. The intervention was for Community Health Workers (CHWs) to build core competencies in community mobilisation through training in rapid PAR methods. CHWs are integral links between the health system and community in low-and-middle-income-country (LMIC) settings. Yet, they are poorly supported and lack skills to connect with communities they serve. To date, we have trained 60 CHWs across the rural sub-district. A pre/post evaluation has shown positive impacts: widening core competencies and supporting CHW's functionality and agency for local decision-making. There is demand from health officials to further scale the training. On this basis, we have been awarded funding from the UKRI-GCRF/Newton/ODA scheme at the University of Aberdeen to: (a) scale through a 'Training-of-Trainers (ToT)' approach with CHWs, health systems and community actors across the sub-district (population 600,000) and (b) evaluate with Department of Health to explore effectiveness and leverage support for further uptake. Training will be facilitated by CHWs already trained by VAPAR, applying a 'Training of Trainers (ToT)' model. This approach is proposed to further enhance skills and capacity of CHWs engaged with VAPAR to date. CHWs who underwent VAPAR training in 2021-22 will facilitate the scale-up. They will recruit new CHWs from each local area for training, with guidance and support from the sub-district management team. Applying a PAR framework, the training will support and enable CHWs to convene community stakeholders, raise priority health concerns, understand concerns from different perspectives, and facilitate action in communities, health systems and public services. The training will be followed by an evaluation to assess learning and skills developed both for trainers and recipients. In-depth interviews with key stakeholders including CHWs, community stakeholders, and senior health officials will be performed to detect impacts on functionality in devolved decision-making, community mobilisation, learning and skills development, in terms of costs and benefits, and to explore future uptake. This will further enable us to leverage support to implement and evaluate participatory approaches in decentralised health systems in low-and-middle-income countries (LMICs). The sub-district is a rural rapidly transitioning environment with widespread poverty - the project seeks to strengthen human resource capacity to improve health among vulnerable communities. The project will expand CHWs competencies in community mobilisation: in rapid evidence generation on burden and determinants of disease, human experience of burden, and on feasible local action to respond to this burden. The intervention thus supports the Department of Health in its mandate to engage with and respond to community needs and address exclusion from health systems. The training also supports data-driven decision-making through facilitating utilisation of evidence in public sector planning and management. The project, moreover, enables the team to document and share best practice with the sub-district, as well as with higher levels of the health system. Further development, testing and dissemination of the intervention will also support us to leverage funding to implement and evaluate in decentralised health systems across low-and-middle-income countries. |
URL | https://www.vapar.org/launching-a-new-resource-for-community-health-workers-chws |
Description | D'Ambruoso L, Fottrell E. Convening a Verbal Autopsy Working Group. University of Aberdeen, University College London 24th February 2021. |
Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
Impact | D'Ambruoso L, Fottrell E. Convening a Verbal Autopsy Working Group. University of Aberdeen, University College London 24th February 2021. |
Description | Exchange between Mpumalanga DoH and NHS Grampian |
Geographic Reach | Local/Municipal/Regional |
Policy Influence Type | Contribution to new or improved professional practice |
Impact | Now driving ASH Scotland demonstration project in cooperation with NHSG on CE and LHS methods |
URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SrEaPsdNykw&t=103s |
Description | Giving evidence to Ministerial Committee |
Geographic Reach | National |
Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
Description | How do we Gain Community and Patient Support? D'Ambruoso, L. (Speaker) Period17 Jan 2020 Event titleAfroSurg Conference: A Network Meeting to Improve Equitable Access to Safe and Timely Surgical Care in Southern Africa |
Geographic Reach | Africa |
Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
Impact | How do we Gain Community and Patient Support? D'Ambruoso, L. (Speaker) Period17 Jan 2020 Event titleAfroSurg Conference: A Network Meeting to Improve Equitable Access to Safe and Timely Surgical Care in Southern Africa |
URL | https://abdn.pure.elsevier.com/en/activities/how-do-we-gain-community-and-patient-support |
Description | Mapping barriers to surgical care: workshop with providers, patients and community advocates D'Ambruoso, L. (Speaker) 15 Jan 2020 Dept of Global Health, Stellenbosch University, South Africa |
Geographic Reach | Africa |
Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
Impact | Mapping barriers to surgical care: workshop with providers, patients and community advocates D'Ambruoso, L. (Speaker) 15 Jan 2020 Dept of Global Health, Stellenbosch University, South Africa |
URL | https://abdn.pure.elsevier.com/en/activities/mapping-barriers-to-surgical-care-workshop-with-provide... |
Description | Participate in Scottish Parliament Cross Party Group (CPG) on Health |
Geographic Reach | National |
Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
Description | Participated in Scottish Parliament Cross Party Group on Alcohol and Drugs |
Geographic Reach | National |
Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
Description | PhD (2017/18 entry) nested in VAPAR Programme, entitled: The role of community participation in Health System Strengthening in South Africa |
Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
Impact | Student nested in VAPAR for her PhD fieldwork Jennifer Ngwarai is nested in the VAPAR project for the duration of her PhD at the School of Public Health, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa. The title of her PhD is "The role of community participation in Health System Strengthening in South Africa". |
Description | Placement projects (n=2 2017/18) linking University of Aberdeen postgraduate students to MRC/Wits Rural Public Health and Health Transitions Research Unit (Agincourt), South Africa |
Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
Impact | No impacts as yet |
Description | Provincial Health Research Committee: engaging on strategy, capacity building and communications |
Geographic Reach | Local/Municipal/Regional |
Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
Impact | Several engagements (see details in 'Engagements') supporting Provincial Health Research Committee on strategy, capacity building and communications. Impacts relate to PHRC strategy development supporting increased accountability of researchers to local contexts, supporting ethical training for PHRC members and assisting with communications of PHRC activities through web-based means |
Description | Support to government departments: submission of evidence to District Health Management Team |
Geographic Reach | Local/Municipal/Regional |
Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
Impact | Supporting government department as part of routine primary health care governance, specifically in terms of contributing evidence base for planning and monitoring at district level. |
Description | Trained Rwanda and South African researchers in participatory methods, Kigali 2023 |
Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
Impact | Development of a methodological cooperative of Southern and Northern researchers |
Description | VA methods uptake in national cause of death study |
Geographic Reach | Africa |
Policy Influence Type | Citation in other policy documents |
Impact | methodology developed in VAPAR (COMCAT) taken up in national South African cause of death validation study Bradshaw D, Joubert JD, Maqungo M, Nannan N, Funani N, Laubscher R, Cheyip M, Zinyakatira N, Awotiwon O, Nojilana B, Bezuidenhout F, Martin L, Dempers J, Kahn K, Price J, Lombard C, Morof D, Nichols E, Rao C, Groenewald P. South African National Cause-of-Death Validation Project: Methodology and Description of a National Sample of Verbal Autopsies. Cape Town: South African Medical Research Council, 2020 https://www.samrc.ac.za/reports/south-african-national-cause-death-validation Hussain-Alkhateeb L, D'Ambruoso L, Tollman S, Kahn K, Van Der Merwe M, Twine R, Schiöler L & Petzold M (2019). Enhancing the value of mortality data for health systems: adding Circumstances Of Mortality CATegories (COMCATs) to deaths investigated by verbal autopsy. Global Health Action 12(1):1680068. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/16549716.2019.1680068 |
URL | https://www.samrc.ac.za/reports/south-african-national-cause-death-validation |
Description | ASH Scotland - demonstration project grant |
Amount | £50,530 (GBP) |
Organisation | Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 02/2023 |
End | 07/2023 |
Description | Abbott P (PI), D'Ambruoso L (Co-I). Strengthening health care systems in Rwanda and Ethiopia to provide care in the community. GCRF Internal Pump Priming Fund (IPPF) 2020 | GBP 7,010 |
Amount | £7,010 (GBP) |
Funding ID | Abbott P (PI), D'Ambruoso L (Co-I). Strengthening health care systems in Rwanda and Ethiopia to provide care in the community. GCRF Internal Pump Priming Fund (IPPF) 2020 | GBP 7,010 |
Organisation | United Kingdom Research and Innovation |
Department | Global Challenges Research Fund |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 01/2020 |
End | 12/2020 |
Description | Action on Smoking and Health (ASH): - ASH Scotland - demonstration project grant, engagement extension (£ 20956; 2024) |
Amount | £20,956 (GBP) |
Organisation | Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) |
Department | Action on Smoking and Health (ASH Scotland) |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 09/2023 |
End | 02/2024 |
Description | D'Ambruoso L (PI), Black C (Co-I); Van Der Merwe M (Co-I); Mdluli D (Co-I) Schneider H (Co-I); Witter S (Co-I). Developing learning health systems in South Africa: building interdisciplinary capacity for evidence- based decision-making and health systems |
Amount | £9,990 (GBP) |
Funding ID | GCRF Internal Pump Priming Fund (IPPF) |
Organisation | United Kingdom Research and Innovation |
Department | Global Challenges Research Fund |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 01/2019 |
End | 12/2020 |
Description | Fostering policy support for child and family wellbeing - Learning from international experience, 2017-20 |
Amount | £65,600 (GBP) |
Organisation | Robert Wood Johnson Foundation |
Sector | Academic/University |
Country | United States |
Start | 03/2017 |
End | 06/2020 |
Description | GCRF Covid-19 Response Application Form |
Amount | £42,048 (GBP) |
Organisation | United Kingdom Research and Innovation |
Department | Global Challenges Research Fund |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 12/2020 |
End | 07/2021 |
Description | Medical Research Foundation Changing Policy and Practice: Building bridges - institutionalising practical solutions for community participation in rural South Africa through primary health care policy and practice engagement |
Amount | £30,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | Medical Research Council (MRC) |
Department | Medical Research Foundation |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 02/2024 |
End | 01/2025 |
Description | NIHR Global Health Group on Equitable Access to Quality Health Care for Injured People in Four Low or Middle Income Countries: Equi-injury |
Amount | £2,955,703 (GBP) |
Organisation | National Institute for Health Research |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 07/2022 |
End | 07/2026 |
Description | NIHR Global Health Research Group on Promoting Children's and Adolescent's Mental Wellbeing in sub-Saharan Africa |
Amount | £2,717,954 (GBP) |
Organisation | National Institute for Health Research |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 07/2022 |
End | 03/2026 |
Description | REF2021 Impact Support Award (RISA) University of Aberdeen |
Amount | £9,944 (GBP) |
Funding ID | Extending verbal autopsy: developing routine field surveillance methods to measure and understand burden of disease in low and middle income countries |
Organisation | University of Aberdeen |
Sector | Academic/University |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 11/2018 |
End | 10/2019 |
Description | Rwanda912: Use of an electronic communications platform to improve pre-hospital transport of injured people |
Amount | £3,199,931 (GBP) |
Organisation | National Institute for Health Research |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 03/2022 |
End | 05/2027 |
Description | UKRI COVID-19 Grant Extension Allocation (CoA) |
Amount | £22,954 (GBP) |
Organisation | United Kingdom Research and Innovation |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 12/2020 |
End | 09/2021 |
Description | Wellcome Trust Institutional Strategic Support Fund (University of Aberdeen) |
Amount | £9,996 (GBP) |
Funding ID | Developing an international collaborative network to extend the sustainability and transferability of health systems research methods in Africa |
Organisation | University of Aberdeen |
Sector | Academic/University |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 01/2019 |
End | 12/2020 |
Description | Women's Health Outcomes Improvement for West Africa Initiative Global Challenge Research Fund (GCRF) Scottish Funding Council, 2018 |
Amount | £9,940 (GBP) |
Organisation | Government of Scotland |
Department | Scottish Funding Council |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 01/2018 |
End | 07/2018 |
Title | Circumstances of mortality categories (COMCAT) |
Description | Recognising that the causes of over half the world's deaths pass unrecorded, the World Health Organization (WHO) leads development of Verbal Autopsy (VA): a method to understand causes of death in otherwise unregistered populations. Recently, VA has been developed for use outside research environments, supporting countries and communities to recognise and act on their own health priorities. We developed the Circumstances of Mortality Categories (COMCATs) system within VA to provide complementary circumstantial categorisations of deaths. |
Type Of Material | Model of mechanisms or symptoms - human |
Year Produced | 2019 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | COMCAT Taken up in WHO VA international standards |
URL | https://www.who.int/standards/classifications/other-classifications/verbal-autopsy-standards-ascerta... |
Title | Circumstances of mortality categories (COMCAT) |
Description | Recognising that the causes of over half the world's deaths pass unrecorded, the World Health Organization (WHO) leads development of Verbal Autopsy (VA): a method to understand causes of death in otherwise unregistered populations. Recently, VA has been developed for use outside research environments, supporting countries and communities to recognise and act on their own health priorities. We developed the Circumstances of Mortality Categories (COMCATs) system within VA to provide complementary circumstantial categorisations of deaths. |
Type Of Material | Model of mechanisms or symptoms - human |
Year Produced | 2019 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | Taken up in national cause of death validation study https://www.samrc.ac.za/reports/south-african-national-cause-death-validation |
URL | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/16549716.2021.2000091 |
Title | Community Health Worker Training: Community Mobilisation |
Description | This manual contains a set of tools that can be used by Community Health Workers (CHWs). The manual aims to assist CHWs to convene community stakeholder groups, to raise and/or respond to priority health concerns, to understand the nature of the concerns from different perspectives in the community and to start a discussion on action that can be taken in communities. |
Type Of Material | Improvements to research infrastructure |
Year Produced | 2021 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | Request from district DoH to scale the training intervention |
Title | Health Policy and Systems Research (HPSR) in Mpumalanga |
Description | Through the VAPAR programme it has been possible to develop a postgraduate taught course on Health Policy and Systems Research (HPSR) which is currently delivered at the University of Aberdeen, and regularly provides content to the international membership body Health Systems Global where the University of Aberdeen is a featured providers of PG training in this area |
Type Of Material | Improvements to research infrastructure |
Year Produced | 2017 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | The intention is for more locally relevant research and research capacity |
URL | http://courses.healthsystemsglobal.org/courses/363 |
Title | Hussain-Alkhateeb L, D'Ambruoso L, Tollman S, Kahn K, Van Der Merwe M, Twine R, Schiöler L & Petzold M (2019). Enhancing the value of mortality data for health systems: adding Circumstances Of Mortality CATegories (COMCATs) to deaths investigated by verbal autopsy. Global Health Action 12(1):1680068. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/16549716.2019.1680068 |
Description | Extension of VA to account for social and health systems circumstances of deaths. We have integrated the system into standard interpretation and mortality classification systems. We developed Circumstances Of Mortality CATegories (COMCAT) as a pragmatic and scalable approach within VA tools |
Type Of Material | Improvements to research infrastructure |
Year Produced | 2019 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | Method appraised in national South African cause of death validation study https://www.samrc.ac.za/reports/south-african-national-cause-death-validation |
URL | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/16549716.2019.1680068 |
Title | Participatory Action Research (PAR) |
Description | There is limited operational understanding of multisectoral action in health inclusive of communities as active change agents. The objectives were to: (a) develop community-led action-learning, advancing multisectoral responses for local public health problems; and (b) derive transferrable learning. articipants representing communities, government departments and non-governmental organisations in a rural district in South Africa co-designed the process. Participants identified and problematised local health concerns, coproduced and collectively analysed data, developed and implemented local action, and reflected on and refined the process. |
Type Of Material | Model of mechanisms or symptoms - human |
Year Produced | 2017 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | PAR method taken up my Mpumalanga Department of Health |
URL | https://www.vapar.org/launching-a-new-resource-for-community-health-workers-chws |
Title | Participatory Action Research (PAR) to gain local knowledge on health and illness, including Photovoice |
Description | The method aims to develop community partnerships to co-construct and act on new knowledge on health in rural settings. The method provides a means to engage with communities in a participatory process to review mortality data and extended COD classifications from Agincourt HDSS, to further amplify these data with local knowledge, to set priorities for local services, and explore the potential for benefits related to empowerment and social inclusion. The method has been developed as part of the Verbal Autopsy with Participatory Action Research (VAPAR) methodological development work (DFID/MRC/Wellcome Trust/ESRC Health Systems Research Initiative (MR/N005597/1) ), Phase 2. |
Type Of Material | Model of mechanisms or symptoms - human |
Year Produced | 2016 |
Provided To Others? | No |
Impact | - PAR process with local communities: Using the new VA outputs in a deliberative process with village-based groups, new insights have been gained on specific mechanisms through which health risks are accumulated and access to services is limited. Issues identified include transactional sex, harmful traditional practices, alcohol/substance abuse and debt, compounded by denial of treatment, insensitive staff and poor confidentiality in clinics. Photovoice was also used to explore participatory photography - Partnerships: the process has been developed with Mpumalanga provincial health authority and local communities in Agincourt. The partnerships are evidenced in a paper, conference abstract and the current application co-authored by health authority representatives and researchers. The health authority also plans to initiate a community health forum responding to needs expressed in the PAR element. |
Title | Participatroy Action Research (PAR) |
Description | There is limited operational understanding of multisectoral action in health inclusive of communities as active change agents. The objectives were to: (a) develop community-led action-learning, advancing multisectoral responses for local public health problems; and (b) derive transferrable learning. Participants representing communities, government departments and non-governmental organisations in a rural district in South Africa co-designed the process. Participants identified and problematised local health concerns, coproduced and collectively analysed data, developed and implemented local action, and reflected on and refined the process. |
Type Of Material | Model of mechanisms or symptoms - human |
Year Produced | 2017 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | Exchange to explore uptake by NHS Grampian |
URL | https://www.abdn.ac.uk/news/16567/ |
Description | 'Voice needs teeth to have bite'! Strengthening social accountability in health systems through participatory learning and action Learning Session 11-13GMT| 13-15CAT | 13-15CEST 25th November 2020 SPOT-IMPACT, Department of Anthropology, University of Amsterdam |
Organisation | University of Amsterdam |
Country | Netherlands |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | 'Voice needs teeth to have bite'! Strengthening social accountability in health systems through participatory learning and action Learning Session 11-13GMT| 13-15CAT | 13-15CEST 25th November 2020 SPOT-IMPACT, Department of Anthropology, University of Amsterdam : Drawing on political scientist Johnathan Fox's work on citizen voice, this learning session seeks to build understanding of and skills in approaches to strategically advance social accountability in health systems. We explore embedding participatory and cooperative learning and action in health systems to improve care and outcomes, and progress broader shifts towards 'state-society synergies'. |
Collaborator Contribution | Hosted learning session |
Impact | https://www.vapar.org/nov-2020-learning-session |
Start Year | 2020 |
Description | AfroSurg networking conference for surgical care stakeholders |
Organisation | University of Stellenbosch |
Country | South Africa |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | VAPAR PI gave a talk entitled 'How do we Gain Community and Patient Support?' at AfroSurg: A network to improve equitable access to safe and timely surgical care in Southern Africa 16th-17th January 2020 |
Collaborator Contribution | VAPAR PI gave a talk entitled 'How do we Gain Community and Patient Support?' at AfroSurg: A network to improve equitable access to safe and timely surgical care in Southern Africa 16th-17th January 2020. The network is interested in community engagement, health systems and policy aspects of Global Surgery. VAPAR has developed significant learning in these areas since 2015 |
Impact | VAPAR PI gave a talk entitled 'How do we Gain Community and Patient Support?' at AfroSurg: A network to improve equitable access to safe and timely surgical care in Southern Africa 16th-17th January 2020 |
Start Year | 2020 |
Description | Aga Khan University - international learning and exchange |
Organisation | Aga Khan University |
Country | Pakistan |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Invited talk to Department of Community Health Sciences |
Collaborator Contribution | Platform for learning and exchange |
Impact | Learning and exchange across diverse settings and academic groups |
Start Year | 2023 |
Description | Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research, World Health Organization |
Organisation | Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research |
Country | Switzerland |
Sector | Hospitals |
PI Contribution | VAPAR investigators interviewed in October 2019 for AHPSR publication on learning health systems |
Collaborator Contribution | VAPAR investigators interviewed in October 2019 for AHPSR publication on learning health systems |
Impact | Internal document - How do low- and middle- income country health systems learn? Experiences and enablers Sophie Witter & Charity Jensen August 2019 Internal document - How do low- and middle- income country health systems learn? Concepts and frameworks Sophie Witter & Charity Jensen August 2019 |
Start Year | 2019 |
Description | Department of Global Health and Development, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine |
Organisation | London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Project supervision |
Collaborator Contribution | Project supervision |
Impact | Thomas LM, D'Ambruoso L, Balabanova D (2018). Verbal autopsy in health policy and systems: a literature review. BMJ Global Health;3:e000639. Thomas LM, D'Ambruoso L, Balabanova D (2018). The use of verbal autopsy and social autopsy in humanitarian crises. BMJ Global Health;3:e000639. |
Start Year | 2017 |
Description | Electoral Reform Society |
Organisation | Electoral Reform Society |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Learned Society |
PI Contribution | VAPAR PI approached by ERS to organise an event on participatory innovation in Scotland, the Scottish Citizen's Assembly |
Collaborator Contribution | In Dec 2019, we hosted the event 'What is Scotland's Citizens' Assembly' organised by The Electoral Reform Society with help from University staff and students Lucia D'Ambruoso and Deena Tissera (Medicine) and Malcolm Harvey (Politics). Thursday, 18:00 - 20:00?, in the Kings Auditorium, KCCC. The event supported public understanding of and engagement with Scotland's Citizens' Assembly and democratic participative and deliberative methods in politics. We are delighted to have Esther Roberton chair the discussion, and be joined by Dr Clodagh Harris Head of the Department of Government & Politics, University College Cork, Ian Davidson, Secretary to the Citizens' Assembly of Scotland and Michela Palese researcher at ERS. |
Impact | In Dec 2019, we hosted the event 'What is Scotland's Citizens' Assembly' organised by The Electoral Reform Society with help from University staff and students Lucia D'Ambruoso and Deena Tissera (Medicine) and Malcolm Harvey (Politics). Thursday, 18:00 - 20:00?, in the Kings Auditorium, KCCC. The event supported public understanding of and engagement with Scotland's Citizens' Assembly and democratic participative and deliberative methods in politics. We are delighted to have Esther Roberton chair the discussion, and be joined by Dr Clodagh Harris Head of the Department of Government & Politics, University College Cork, Ian Davidson, Secretary to the Citizens' Assembly of Scotland and Michela Palese researcher at ERS. |
Start Year | 2019 |
Description | Embedding into district health planning and review in Mpumalanga, South Africa |
Organisation | Mpumalanga Department of Health |
Country | South Africa |
Sector | Public |
PI Contribution | In May 2019, we held a mid-term review of the VAPAR process with VAPAR participants, and provincial and national Department of Health stakeholders. The outcome of the review has been the prospective embedding into district health planning and review in Mpumalanga, South Africa |
Collaborator Contribution | In May 2019, we held a mid-term review of the VAPAR process with VAPAR participants, and provincial and national Department of Health stakeholders. The outcome of the review has been the prospective embedding into district health planning and review in Mpumalanga, South Africa |
Impact | In May 2019, we held a mid-term review of the VAPAR process with VAPAR participants, and provincial and national Department of Health stakeholders. The outcome of the review has been the prospective embedding into district health planning and review in Mpumalanga, South Africa |
Start Year | 2019 |
Description | Faculty of Public Health in Scotland - national learning and exchange |
Organisation | Faculty of Public Health |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
PI Contribution | Conenction and exchange around Learning Health Systems methods |
Collaborator Contribution | Providing forum for exchange and learning |
Impact | Conference presentation and panel discussion |
Start Year | 2022 |
Description | Health Systems Global Webinar |
Organisation | Health Systems Global |
Country | Georgia |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
PI Contribution | Development of webinar on social participation in health systems: D'Ambruoso L, Ruano AL, van der Merwe M, Witter S, Mabetha D, Jerez FJ. Voice Needs Teeth to Have Bite: Strengthening social accountability in health systems through participation and cooperative learning. A Webinar for Health Systems Global https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NDtYf-0-Nfc |
Collaborator Contribution | Development of webinar on social participation in health systems: D'Ambruoso L, Ruano AL, van der Merwe M, Witter S, Mabetha D, Jerez FJ. Voice Needs Teeth to Have Bite: Strengthening social accountability in health systems through participation and cooperative learning. A Webinar for Health Systems Global https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NDtYf-0-Nfc |
Impact | Development of webinar on social participation in health systems: D'Ambruoso L, Ruano AL, van der Merwe M, Witter S, Mabetha D, Jerez FJ. Voice Needs Teeth to Have Bite: Strengthening social accountability in health systems through participation and cooperative learning. A Webinar for Health Systems Global https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NDtYf-0-Nfc |
Start Year | 2021 |
Description | Institute of Applied Health Research, University of Birmingham |
Organisation | University of Birmingham |
Department | Institute of Applied Health Research |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | VAPAR PI gave an invited talk at UoB 24 Jan 2019 entitled: Whose reality counts? Participation and coproduction in global health research |
Collaborator Contribution | VAPAR PI gave an invited talk at UoB 24 Jan 2019 entitled: Whose reality counts? Participation and coproduction in global health research |
Impact | VAPAR PI gave an invited talk at UoB 24 Jan 2019 entitled: Whose reality counts? Participation and coproduction in global health research |
Start Year | 2019 |
Description | International Verbal Autopsy Working Group |
Organisation | University College London |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | With colleagues at UCL, we have convened an international VA working group. The group has had 5 meetings to date |
Collaborator Contribution | The group is diverse bringing VA methodologists from all world regions to share experiences and approaches and consolidate working |
Impact | With colleagues at UCL, we have convened an international VA working group. The group has had 5 meetings to date. The group is diverse bringing VA methodologists from all world regions to share experiences and approaches and consolidate working |
Start Year | 2021 |
Description | Isa Uny - University of Stirling |
Organisation | University of Stirling |
Department | School of Health Sciences |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Collaborated on the funding proposal entitled: ' From Fuel to Pot: an interdisciplinary partnership to address the role of solid fuel use in food preparation in the household in Kenya and Malawi' |
Collaborator Contribution | Collaborated on the funding proposal entitled: ' From Fuel to Pot: an interdisciplinary partnership to address the role of solid fuel use in food preparation in the household in Kenya and Malawi' |
Impact | Funding proposal UKRI GCRF Collective Prog - Cultures and Histories of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition - Jan 2020 |
Start Year | 2019 |
Description | Jessica Price - Nuffield Department of Primary Care University of Oxford |
Organisation | University of Oxford |
Department | Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Collaboration in shared interests around social autopsy and under-5 mortality. Collaboration to set up WHO Collaborating Centre for Verbal Autopsy at University of the Witwatersrand |
Collaborator Contribution | Collaboration in shared interests around social autopsy and under-5 mortality. Collaboration to set up WHO Collaborating Centre for Verbal Autopsy at University of the Witwatersrand |
Impact | Collaboration ongoing |
Start Year | 2019 |
Description | Mpumalanga Department of Health - launching a new resource for Community Health Workers (CHWs) |
Organisation | Mpumalanga Department of Health |
Country | South Africa |
Sector | Public |
PI Contribution | This manual contains a set of tools that can be used by Community Health Workers (CHWs) who are working in their designated area as part of Ward Based Primary Healthcare Outreach Teams (WBPHCBOTs). The manual aims to assist CHWs to convene community stakeholder groups, to raise and/or respond to priority health concerns, to understand the nature of the concerns from different perspectives in the community and to start a discussion on and facilitate and monitor action that can be taken in communities and in the health systems and public services more widely. |
Collaborator Contribution | Technical development and endorsement |
Impact | Community Health Workers Community Mobilisation Training Manual https://www.vapar.org/training |
Start Year | 2017 |
Description | Mpumalanga Department of Health exchange with NHS Grampian |
Organisation | NHS Grampian |
Department | Public Health |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Public |
PI Contribution | Provincial director of health research in Mpumalanga Dr Jerry Sigudla joined a delegation from Mpumalanga Department of health to meet and exchange with colleagues in NHS Grampian on learning health systems and community empowerment https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SrEaPsdNykw&t=103s; |
Collaborator Contribution | Time and space (3 days) for learning and exchange |
Impact | CRUK award to apply LHS and CE methods in Scotland supporting NHSG 'Plan for the Future' strategy |
Start Year | 2022 |
Description | NHS Grampian |
Organisation | NHS Grampian |
Department | Public Health |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Public |
PI Contribution | VAPAR PI L D'Ambruoso was seconded into NHS Grampian in 2020 to support the Learning for Recovery and Renewal initiative for the Director of Public Health for whole systems learning, drawn from different sources of evidence and experience to resolve uncertainty through real-time evaluation to solve dynamic problems. Transferrable learning from the VAPAR process supports the Scottish strategy by building new collaborative links and collecting pilot data on adaptive learning |
Collaborator Contribution | In May 2020, a Learning Health Systems (LHS) process was codesigned by senior public health leaders in NHS Grampian together with global public health academics from VAPAR and Training and Research Support Centre (TARSC), UK. Informed by the international development community and WHO, LHS are pragmatic, action-oriented approaches that embed evidence into everyday practice to improve care, outcomes and the functioning of systems that support care. There is an emerging consensus around the need for LHS as a core process in every health system, how to continually produce and exchange evidence is less well understood. The work responds to the lack of frameworks supporting real-time evidence-based decision making and whole systems learning. The work will develop whole systems learning to understand and inform public health responses to Covid-19, with a focus on health protection and the next phase of the response around test and protect, contact tracing and enhanced surveillance, and drawing on and exchanging evidence within the UK and internationally. |
Impact | 1 process report R Loewenson, J Bell, C Black, L D'Ambruoso, S Paranjothy, A Gilmartin in the LRRG Operating Group, October 2020 NHSG Whole Systems Adaptive Learning for Recovery and Renewal: REPORT OF THE WORK ON CROSS CUTTING AND WHOLE SYSTEM LEARNING 2 funding applications L D'Ambruoso, C Littlejohn, Okpo E, Hoggan F, Craig D, Barnes C, Robertson G, Johnston M, Community engagement with at-risk groups to support preventative measures for Covid-19. NHS Endowment November 2020 L D'Ambruoso L, Meher T, Murray A. Supporting preventative measures for Covid-19: advancing peer research to strengthen community engagement with among people who use drugs experiencing intersectional hardship. Alcohol and Drugs Partnership, Aberdeenshire Health and Social Care Partnership |
Start Year | 2020 |
Description | NHS Grampian Public Health |
Organisation | NHS Grampian |
Department | Public Health |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Public |
PI Contribution | With colleagues from NHS Grampian, the PI developed and executed the following research study, exploring issues of community participation in health: D'Ambruoso L (PI University of Aberdeen), Abbott P (Deputy-PI University of Aberdeen), Douglas F (Co-I University of Aberdeen), Okpo E (Co-I NHS Grampian), McPherson E (Co-I Aberdeen City Council). Learning from international experience on approaches to community power, participation and decision-making in health. Training and Research Support Centre, Shaping Health: Exchanging on social power in health 2016 - 2018 | GBP 16,000 |
Collaborator Contribution | Input on specific initiatives, programmes and approaches to community power, participation and decision-making in health in NHS Grampian |
Impact | Loewenson R, Coelho VS, Calandrini A, Waisbich LT, Frenz P, Alfaro T, Mazzei M, Sgombich X, Ndetei DM, Musyimi CW, Musau AM, Matoke LK, Mutiso VN, Matheson D, Matheson K, D'Ambruoso L, Abbott P, Douglas F, McPherson E, Okpo E, Beznec P, Maucec G, Nemeš S, Nemeš D (2017). Experiences of social power and participation in local health systems-Volume 2: Key features of the deep scan case studies, Training and Research Support Centre: Harare. D'Ambruoso L, Abbott P, Douglas F, McPherson E, Okpo E (2017). Case Study: Empowerment approaches to food poverty in NE Scotland in the Shaping Health programme on Learning from international experience on approaches to community power, participation and decision-making in health. Training and Research Support Centre: Harare. Available at: http://ssrn.com/abstract=3027083 |
Start Year | 2017 |
Description | Provincial Health Research Committee, Mpumalanga Department of Health, South Africa |
Organisation | Mpumalanga Department of Health |
Country | South Africa |
Sector | Public |
PI Contribution | Supporting MDoH PHRC with strategy, ethics training and website collaboration |
Collaborator Contribution | Supporting MDoH PHRC with strategy, ethics training and website collaboration |
Impact | Supporting MDoH PHRC with strategy, ethics training and website collaboration |
Start Year | 2021 |
Description | Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh (RCPE) |
Organisation | Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Organising Committee Member Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh (RCPE), University of Edinburgh Global Health Symposium in February 2018 |
Collaborator Contribution | Organising Committee Member Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh (RCPE), University of Edinburgh Global Health Symposium in February 2018 |
Impact | VAPAR PI Dr Lucia D'Ambruoso participated on the organising committee and VAPAR Co-I Professor Stephen Tollman gave the keynote address "Syndemics and chronic disease in South and sub-Saharan Africa" at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh (RCPE) Global Health Symposium held on Wednesday 21 February 2018. |
Start Year | 2017 |
Description | Scottish Parliament Cross Party Group on Improving Scotland's Health: 2021 and Beyond |
Organisation | Scottish Parliament |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Public |
PI Contribution | VAPAR PI Dr Lucia D'Ambruoso joined the Cross Party Group in 2017 to provide inputs from international and local research. The purpose of the group is: (1) To take a solutions-oriented focus on how to improve the health of the people of Scotland by reducing the health harms caused by alcohol, tobacco, poor diet and obesity and (2) To join up knowledge and learning, and to identify positive ways forward, with a range of stakeholders committed to improving public health and to preventing and reducing non-communicable diseases for the next generation. |
Collaborator Contribution | Participation in meetings |
Impact | Participation in meetings |
Start Year | 2017 |
Description | Scottish Parliament Cross Party Group on International Development |
Organisation | Scottish Parliament |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Public |
PI Contribution | VAPAR PI Dr Lucia D'Ambruoso joined the Cross Party Group in 2017, bringing inputs from international research. The purpose of the group is to ensure liaison between MSPs and organisations working in Scotland on international aid and development issues. To further raise awareness in Scotland of these issues and to provide a Scottish forum for discussion, while also promoting stronger links between Scotland and international aid and development agencies. The group will also seek to promote development education in Scotland, to support Scottish organisations working in international aid and development programmes and where appropriate facilitate regular visits to Scotland by representatives of the international humanitarian agencies while engaging with minority residents in Scotland to encourage their involvement in the work of the group. |
Collaborator Contribution | Participation in meetings |
Impact | Participation in meetings |
Start Year | 2017 |
Description | Stellenbosch University Dept. of GLobal Health - keynote speaker on community power in health systems |
Organisation | University of Stellenbosch |
Country | South Africa |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Keynote speaker (PI), international learning and exchange |
Collaborator Contribution | Session organisers |
Impact | Keynote speaker in Webinar on Community Power in ehalth Systems - international learning and exchange |
Start Year | 2022 |
Description | Training and Research Support Centre (TARSC) |
Organisation | Training and Research Support Centre |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
PI Contribution | Insights around social participation in health, and health policy and systems research, have informed productive discussions and collaborative activities with the Training and Research Support Centre (TARSC). The collaboration has been advanced considerably and is evidenced in two research awards from TARSC in November 2017, and in 2018 with the VAPAR PI and TARSC from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. |
Collaborator Contribution | As above |
Impact | Two grant awards as follows: 1. D'Ambruoso L (PI), Abbott P (Deputy-PI), Douglas F (Co-I), Okpo E (Co-I), McPherson E (Co-I). Learning from international experience on approaches to community power, participation and decision-making in health. Training and Research Support Centre, Shaping Health: Exchanging on social power in health 2016 - 2018 GBP 16,000; 2. Loewenson R (PI), D'Ambruoso L (Co-I). Fostering policy support for child and family wellbeing - Learning from international experience. Robert Wood Johnson Foundation 2018 - 2020 GBP 65,600 |
Start Year | 2017 |
Description | University of Global Health Equity |
Organisation | University of Global Health Equity |
Country | Rwanda |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Hosted joint online seminar May 2020 What does 'follow the science' really mean? Exploring the relationships between evidence and policy in the context of COVID-19 Professor Agnes Binagwaho, University of Global Health Equity, Rwanda (discussant) Professor Paul Cairney, University of Stirling, Scotland (discussant) Dr Lucia D'Ambruoso, University of Aberdeen, Scotland and University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa (discussant) Professor George Boyne, University of Aberdeen, Scotland (chair) This discussion explored the meaning of the mantra 'follow the science' in public policy responding to COVID-19. Professor George Boyne, Principal and Vice Chancellor of the University of Aberdeen moderated a discussion between Professor Agnes Binagwaho globally recognised for work in HIV/AIDS and child health, Vice Chancellor the University of Global Health Equity and former Minister of Health in Rwanda (2011-2016), together with internationally renowned political scientist Professor Paul Cairney from Stirling University and Dr Lucia D'Ambruoso, Senior Lecturer in Global Health at the University of Aberdeen and Honorary Researcher at the University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa. https://www.vapar.org/may-2020-what-does-follow-the-scien |
Collaborator Contribution | Jointly organised and publicised seminar |
Impact | Online seminar https://www.vapar.org/may-2020-what-does-follow-the-scien |
Start Year | 2020 |
Description | University of Global Health Equity (UGHE), Rwanda |
Organisation | University of Global Health Equity |
Country | Rwanda |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Joint development of study protocol and recruitment of study team, submission for ethical review at UGHE |
Collaborator Contribution | Joint development of study protocol and recruitment of study team, submission for ethical review at UGHE |
Impact | Consultation on Community Action for Non-Communicable Diseases: Joint development of study protocol for formative research |
Start Year | 2020 |
Description | University of Limpopo, DIMAMO HDSS |
Organisation | University of Limpopo |
Country | South Africa |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Reframing and Addressing Non-Communicable Diseases throughCommunity Participation (Formative research in neighbouring rural province of Limpopo) |
Collaborator Contribution | Development of research project, development of study protocol and submission for ethical clearance, recruitment of research team |
Impact | IRB approval for study protocol |
Start Year | 2021 |
Description | University of the Western Cape |
Organisation | University of the Western Cape |
Department | School of Public Health |
Country | South Africa |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Co-developed funding application |
Collaborator Contribution | Co-developed funding application |
Impact | Wellcome Trust PhD Scholarship funding application M van der Merwe, collaboration between University of Aberdeen, University of the Witwatersrand, and University of the Western Cape. Title: Reframing non-communicable diseases in relation to structural determinants: how do communities navigate diet and chronic illness in rural South Africa? |
Start Year | 2019 |
Description | 'Setting the scene': HIV / TB treatment defaulting. VAPAR DoH Research Briefing |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Formal research brief for Department of health: D'Ambruoso L on behalf of the VAPAR programme (2021). 'Setting the scene': HIV / TB treatment defaulting. VAPAR DoH Research Briefing, Series 2, Number 1. Universities of Aberdeen and the Witwatersrand and Mpumalanga Department of Health. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
Description | Complex Systems Thinking and NCD Prevention Symposium London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine Thursday, 14 September 2017 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | VAPAR PI, Dr Lucia D'Ambruoso participated in the above mentioned event organised by LSHTM (https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/complex-systems-thinking-and-ncd-prevention-registration-33988673036) with two postgraduate students from the University of Aberdeen. The meeting was an excellent networking opportunity at which links with LSHTM academics working in health policy and systems research were developed. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
URL | https://www.abdn.ac.uk/iahs/research/global-health/complex-system-thinking-and-noncommunicable-disea... |
Description | D'Ambruoso L (2019). Verbal Autopsy with Participatory Action Research (VAPAR): expanding the evidence base through partnerships for action on health equity. Ministerial Committee on Mortality and Morbidity in Children Under-5, Department of Health, Republic of South Africa 14 February 2019. |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
Results and Impact | D'Ambruoso L (2019). Verbal Autopsy with Participatory Action Research (VAPAR): expanding the evidence base through partnerships for action on health equity. Ministerial Committee on Mortality and Morbidity in Children Under-5, Department of Health, Republic of South Africa 14 February 2019. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | D'Ambruoso L, Cairney P, Binagwaho A (2020). What does follow the science really mean? Exploring the relationships between evidence and policy in the context of Covid-19. Aberdeen Centre for Health Data Science International Seminar Series. Organised session https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4oqa1bqJBOY&t=25s |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | D'Ambruoso L, Cairney P, Binagwaho A (2020). What does follow the science really mean? Exploring the relationships between evidence and policy in the context of Covid-19. Aberdeen Centre for Health Data Science International Seminar Series. Organised session |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4oqa1bqJBOY&t=25s |
Description | D'Ambruoso L, Fottrell E. Convening a Verbal Autopsy Working Group. University of Aberdeen, University College London 24th February 2021. |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Other audiences |
Results and Impact | D'Ambruoso L, Fottrell E. Convening a Verbal Autopsy Working Group. University of Aberdeen, University College London 24th February 2021. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
Description | D'Ambruoso L, Twine R, Mabetha D, Hove J, van der Merwe M, Kahn K, Tollman S, Witter S. Supporting CHWs to connect with communities in rural South Africa during COVID-19. CHW Central https://chwcentral.org/twg_article/supporting-chws-to-connect-with-communities-in-rural-south-africa-during-covid-19/ |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | D'Ambruoso L, Twine R, Mabetha D, Hove J, van der Merwe M, Kahn K, Tollman S, Witter S. Supporting CHWs to connect with communities in rural South Africa during COVID-19. CHW Central https://chwcentral.org/twg_article/supporting-chws-to-connect-with-communities-in-rural-south-africa-during-covid-19/ |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
URL | https://chwcentral.org/twg_article/supporting-chws-to-connect-with-communities-in-rural-south-africa... |
Description | D'Ambruoso et al (2020). Building Cooperative Learning to Address Alcohol and Drug Abuse. Participedia. Available at: https://participedia.net/case/6574 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | D'Ambruoso et al (2020). Building Cooperative Learning to Address Alcohol and Drug Abuse. Participedia. Available at: https://participedia.net/case/6574 |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
URL | https://participedia.net/case/6574 |
Description | D'Ambruoso et al (2020). Community perspectives on HIV, violence and health surveillance in rural South Africa. Participedia. Available at: https://participedia.net/case/6570 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | D'Ambruoso et al (2020). Community perspectives on HIV, violence and health surveillance in rural South Africa. Participedia. Available at: https://participedia.net/case/6570 |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
URL | https://participedia.net/case/6570 |
Description | D'Ambruoso et al (2020). Developing a learning platform to address under-five mortality in rural South Africa. Participedia. Available at: https://participedia.net/case/6575 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | D'Ambruoso et al (2020). Developing a learning platform to address under-five mortality in rural South Africa. Participedia. Available at: https://participedia.net/case/6575 |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
URL | https://participedia.net/case/6575 |
Description | D'Ambruoso et al (2020). Introducing visual participatory methods to develop local knowledge on HIV in rural South Africa. Participedia. Available at: https://participedia.net/case/6577 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | D'Ambruoso et al (2020). Introducing visual participatory methods to develop local knowledge on HIV in rural South Africa. Participedia. Available at: https://participedia.net/case/6577 |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
URL | https://participedia.net/case/6577 |
Description | D'Ambruoso et al (2020). MRC/Wits Agincourt Health and Socio Demographic Surveillance System. Participedia. Available at: https://participedia.net/organization/6592 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | D'Ambruoso et al (2020). MRC/Wits Agincourt Health and Socio Demographic Surveillance System. Participedia. Available at: https://participedia.net/organization/6592 |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
URL | https://participedia.net/organization/6592 |
Description | D'Ambruoso et al (2020). Participatory Action Research in Agincourt Socio-demographic Surveillance Site. Participedia. Available at: https://participedia.net/case/6576 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | D'Ambruoso et al (2020). Participatory Action Research in Agincourt Socio-demographic Surveillance Site. Participedia. Available at: https://participedia.net/case/6576 |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
URL | https://participedia.net/case/6576 |
Description | D'Ambruoso, L (2020). How do we gain community and patient support? AfroSug: A network to improve equitable access to safe and timely surgical care in Southern Africa Stellenbosch University 16th-17th January 2020 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | VAPAR PI gave the invited talk: How do we Gain Community and Patient Support? Period17 Jan 2020 Event titleAfroSurg Conference: A Network Meeting to Improve Equitable Access to Safe and Timely Surgical Care in Southern Africa Event typeTalk/Presentation LocationCape Town, South Africa https://abdn.pure.elsevier.com/en/activities/how-do-we-gain-community-and-patient-support |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
URL | https://abdn.pure.elsevier.com/en/activities/how-do-we-gain-community-and-patient-support |
Description | D'Ambruoso, L, Mabetha D (2020). 'Voice needs teeth to have bite'! Strengthening social accountability in health systems through participatory learning and action Learning Session 25th November 2020 SPOT-IMPACT, Department of Anthropology, University of Amsterdam |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Other audiences |
Results and Impact | D'Ambruoso, L, Mabetha D (2020). 'Voice needs teeth to have bite'! Strengthening social accountability in health systems through participatory learning and action Learning Session 25th November 2020 SPOT-IMPACT, Department of Anthropology, University of Amsterdam |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
URL | https://www.vapar.org/nov-2020-learning-session |
Description | Giving evidence to Ministerial Committee: Verbal Autopsy with Participatory Action Research (VAPAR): expanding the evidence base through partnerships for action on health equity. Ministerial Committee on Mortality and Morbidity in Children Under-5, Department of Health, Republic of South Africa 14 February 2019. |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
Results and Impact | D'Ambruoso L (2019). Verbal Autopsy with Participatory Action Research (VAPAR): expanding the evidence base through partnerships for action on health equity. Ministerial Committee on Mortality and Morbidity in Children Under-5, Department of Health, Republic of South Africa 14 February 2019. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | Invited talk and panel discussion Whose reality counts? Participation and coproduction in global health research. Institute of Applied Health Research Seminar Series, University of Birmingham, 24th January 2019. |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | D'Ambruoso L (2019). Whose reality counts? Participation and coproduction in global health research. Institute of Applied Health Research Seminar Series, University of Birmingham, 24th January 2019. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | Invited talk and panel discussion Whose voice counts? Science communication in multi-level, intersectoral collaborations, National Research Foundation/Department of Science and Technology Graduate Student Network: Selling Your Science Selling Yourself 16th-20th September 2018 Limpopo, South Africa. |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | D'Ambruoso L (2018). Whose voice counts? Science communication in multi-level, intersectoral collaborations, National Research Foundation/Department of Science and Technology Graduate Student Network: Selling Your Science Selling Yourself 16th-20th September 2018 Limpopo, South Africa. http://gsn.dirisa.org/indibano/2018 |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
URL | http://gsn.dirisa.org/indibano/2018 |
Description | Invited talk: Aga Khan University Department of Community Health Sciences |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Invited talk and department exchange |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
URL | https://www.vapar.org/_files/ugd/532615_947e7481597a432c9bed8e23dbe2f0ab.pdf |
Description | Invited talk: D'Ambruoso, L, On behalf of the Verbal Autopsy with Participatory Action Research (VAPAR) Wits/Mpumalanga Department of Health Learning Platform (2021). Verbal Autopsy with Participatory Action Research (VAPAR). 27th September 2021 Mpumalanga DoH Research Committee, South Africa. Engagement with Mpumalanga Provincial Health Research Committee, including support to develop a research repository and the implementation of a research uptake strategy |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
Results and Impact | D'Ambruoso, L, On behalf of the Verbal Autopsy with Participatory Action Research (VAPAR) Wits/Mpumalanga Department of Health Learning Platform (2021). Verbal Autopsy with Participatory Action Research (VAPAR). 27th September 2021 Mpumalanga DoH Research Committee, South Africa. Engagement with Mpumalanga Provincial Health Research Committee, including support to develop a research repository and the implementation of a research uptake strategy |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
Description | Invited talk: M van der Merwe Univ of the Witwatersrand "Collective reflections on the first cycle of a collaborative learning platform to strengthen rural primary health care in Mpumalanga" |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | Invited talk: Van der Merwe M on behalf of the VAPAR programme (2021). Collective reflections on the first cycle of a collaborative learning platform to strengthen rural primary health care in Mpumalanga. Academic Day, MRC/Wits Rural Public Health and Health Transitions Research Unit, Agincourt, South Africa.18the June 2021. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
Description | Invited talk: Mpumalanga DoH Research Committee |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
Results and Impact | D'Ambruoso, L, On behalf of the Verbal Autopsy with Participatory Action Research (VAPAR) Wits/Mpumalanga Department of Health Learning Platform (2021). Verbal Autopsy with Participatory Action Research (VAPAR). 16th April 2021 Mpumalanga DoH Research Committee, South Africa |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
Description | Keynote address Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh (RCPE) Global Health Symposium 21 February 2018 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | The keynote address "Syndemics and chronic disease in South and sub-Saharan Africa" at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh (RCPE) Global Health Symposium held on Wednesday 21 February 2018 was given by VAPAR co-investigator Professor Steve Tollman of Wits University and MRC, South Africa, and INDEPTH Network, Accra, Ghana |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
URL | https://www.rcpe.ac.uk/college/symposium-global-health |
Description | Keynote speaker at Stellenbosch University Dept. of Global Health Webinar |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Keynote talk as part of Webinar organised by SU |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xxA08I4cylg |
Description | Mabetha D, D'Ambruoso L, Goosen G, Hove J, KahnK, Mdluli D, Mdluli D, Mtungwa3 I, Sigudla J, Spies B, Tollman S, Twine R, van der Merwe M, Witter S.Developing a collaborative learning platform to strengthen community voices in response to addressing social issues: Progressing a learning health system process in Mpumalanga, South Africa. Sixth Global Symposium on Health Systems Research, November 2020. |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Mabetha D, D'Ambruoso L, Goosen G, Hove J, KahnK, Mdluli D, Mdluli D, Mtungwa3 I, Sigudla J, Spies B, Tollman S, Twine R, van der Merwe M, Witter S.Developing a collaborative learning platform to strengthen community voices in response to addressing social issues: Progressing a learning health system process in Mpumalanga, South Africa. Sixth Global Symposium on Health Systems Research, November 2020. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
Description | Mabetha D, Oladeinde O, Hove J, Tollman S, Twine R, van der Merwe, M and D'Ambruoso L. Building a collaborative action/learning process to address alcohol and other drug abuse in Mpumalanga, South Africa: a participatory action research process. South African Community Epidemiology Network on Drug Use 27th February 2020 | Protea Hotel, Nelspruit |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
Results and Impact | Mabetha D, Oladeinde O, Hove J, Tollman S, Twine R, van der Merwe, M and D'Ambruoso L. Building a collaborative action/learning process to address alcohol and other drug abuse in Mpumalanga, South Africa: a participatory action research process. South African Community Epidemiology Network on Drug Use 27th February 2020 | Protea Hotel, Nelspruit |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
Description | Mapping barriers to surgical care: workshop with providers, patients and community advocates |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Mapping barriers to surgical care: workshop with providers, patients and community advocates D'Ambruoso, L. (Speaker) Other Applied Health SciencesInstitute of Applied Health Sciences Activity: Talk, presentation, public lecture, public engagement, outreach and knowledge exchange > Workshop, Seminar or Course |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
URL | https://abdn.pure.elsevier.com/en/activities/mapping-barriers-to-surgical-care-workshop-with-provide... |
Description | Maternal Death Surveillance and Response Action Network (MDSR) Publication, published 6 March 2017 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | VAPAR PI Dr Lucia D'Ambruoso wrote the piece: "Local knowledge to reduce under-five mortality: Initiating participatory action research in rural South Africa" to describe using participatory approaches to strengthen mortality surveillance and reporting systems. The process addresses deaths of children under five years of age, which includes newborn deaths. The approaches can be applied to surveillance of perinatal mortality. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
URL | http://mdsr-action.net/publications/local-knowledge-to-reduce-under-five-mortality/ |
Description | Maternal Death Surveillance and Response Action Network (MDSR) Publication, published 7 September 2017 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | VAPAR PI Dr Lucia D'Ambruoso wrote the piece: "Improving data improving health: Verbal autopsy for health systems strengthening" for the Maternal Death Surveillance and Response Action Network following the VAPAR dissemination event at University College London (UCL) 'Improving Data, Improving Health: Verbal Autopsy for Health Systems Strengthening'. The event was organised by the University of Aberdeen's Centre for Global Development and UCL's Institute for Global Health. The half-day event in October 2016 featured six speakers from the World Health Organization, Umeå University, UCL, Malaria Consortium, University of Aberdeen and the Africa Health Research Institute. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
URL | http://mdsr-action.net/publications/improving-data-improving-health-verbal-autopsy-for-health-system... |
Description | Measuring progress: what is a fact? University of Aberdeen International Development Week 23 February 2017 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
Results and Impact | VAPAR Pi Dr Lucia D'Ambruoso gave the talk: 'Measuring progress: what is a fact?' As part of the University of Aberdeen International Development Week 23 February 2017. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
URL | https://www.abdn.ac.uk/cgd/news/10428/ |
Description | Mpumalanga Department of health VAPAR closeout - present VAPAR programme process, outcomes and learning to provincial senior management team May 2023 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
Results and Impact | VAPAR programme process, outcomes and learning to provincial senior management team - to share an overview of the program to date, with a specific focus on the process, outcomes achieved, and learning from the programme with the provincial senior management team. A 20-30 minute presentation at a senior management meeting may provide an ideal opportunity for this purpose. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
Description | Oral presentation and panel discussion - Wariri O, D'Ambruoso L, Byass P, Kahn K, Spies B, Tollman S, Twine R, Van Der Merwe M, Witter S Rethinking collaboration: developing knowledge partnerships to address under-5 mortality in Mpumalanga province, South Africa. Fourth Global Symposium on Health Systems Research, Liverpool 8-12 October 2018. |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Wariri O, D'Ambruoso L, Byass P, Kahn K, Spies B, Tollman S, Twine R, Van Der Merwe M, Witter S Rethinking collaboration: developing knowledge partnerships to address under-5 mortality in Mpumalanga province, South Africa. Fourth Global Symposium on Health Systems Research, Liverpool 8-12 October 2018. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
URL | http://healthsystemsresearch.org/hsr2018/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/OralAbstractBook-Final.pdf |
Description | Organising Committee Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh (RCPE), University of Edinburgh Global Health Symposium in February 2018 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | This symposium examined some of the issues related to the introduction of vaccines into national programmes and discussed key progress in malaria control. In the context of the increasing recognition of the importance of considering multiple disease burdens in developing countries, the symposium will feature talks on syndemics (particularly in relation to non-communicable diseases and mental health), planetary health and the key challenges in global health over the next decade. This symposium was developed to have a broad appeal to those with an interest in global health - medical students, general practitioners, general physicians of all grades and stages of training, and public health professionals. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
URL | https://www.rcpe.ac.uk/college/symposium-global-health |
Description | Particiaption in WHO VA Reference Group (VARG) |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Other audiences |
Results and Impact | virtual meeting to the Verbal Autopsy Community of Practice to support those implementing Verbal Autopsy for estimating causes of death where medical certification is not yet feasible. The meeting is scheduled on Zoom at 12:00 h GMT on Thursday July 20, 2023. The topic for discussion at the July meeting is: Collecting Verbal Autopsy Narratives - Training, Tips, and Tricks |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
Description | Photovoice Exhibition - Mabetha D on behalf of the VAPAR Programme. 'It destroys families and communities: alcohol and drug abuse in rural South Africa. Photovoice Exhibition Fifth Global Symposium on Health Systems Research, Liverpool 8-12 October 2018. http://healthsystemsresearch.org/hsr2018/photovoice/it-destroys-families-and-communities-alcohol-and-drug-abuse-in-rural-south-africa/ |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Mabetha D on behalf of the VAPAR Programme. 'It destroys families and communities: alcohol and drug abuse in rural South Africa. Photovoice Exhibition Fifth Global Symposium on Health Systems Research, Liverpool 8-12 October 2018. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
URL | http://healthsystemsresearch.org/hsr2018/photovoice/it-destroys-families-and-communities-alcohol-and... |
Description | Poster presentation - Cowan E, D'Ambruoso L, Ameh S, Byass P, Twine R, Wagner RG, Witter S. Understanding non-communicable diseases: combining routine surveillance data with local knowledge in rural South Africa. Fourth Global Symposium on Health Systems Research, Liverpool 8-12 October 2018. |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Cowan E, D'Ambruoso L, Ameh S, Byass P, Twine R, Wagner RG, Witter S. Understanding non-communicable diseases: combining routine surveillance data with local knowledge in rural South Africa. Fourth Global Symposium on Health Systems Research, Liverpool 8-12 October 2018. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
URL | http://healthsystemsresearch.org/hsr2018/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Poster-Abstract-book-v2.pdf |
Description | Poster presentation - Thomas LM, D'Ambruoso L, Balabanova D (GHM 16/17 Centre for Global Development, University of Aberdeen): Verbal Autopsy in Health Policy and Systems: A LITerature Review. Fourth Global Symposium on Health Systems Research, Liverpool 8-12 October 2018. |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Thomas LM, D'Ambruoso L, Balabanova D (GHM 16/17 Centre for Global Development, University of Aberdeen): Verbal Autopsy in Health Policy and Systems: A LITerature Review. Fourth Global Symposium on Health Systems Research, Liverpool 8-12 October 2018. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
URL | http://healthsystemsresearch.org/hsr2018/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Poster-Abstract-book-v2.pdf |
Description | Poster presentation: Understanding non-communicable diseases: combining health surveillance with community based research in rural South Africa at Wits School of Public Health Research Day Public Health for Sustainable Development in Africa 27 November 2017 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Poster at the University of the Witwatersrand's School of Public Health Research Day A Masters graduate from the Univesrity of Aberdeen, Eilidh Cowan had a poster displayed at the School of Public Health Research Day on the 27th November 2017. The title of the poster was "Understanding non-communicable diseases: combining health surveillance with community based research in rural South Africa". |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
Description | RCUK GCRF regional engagement event, University of St Andrews, 26 September 2017 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Other audiences |
Results and Impact | Approximately 50-100 delegates attended a RCUK GCRF regional engagement event on the 26 September 2017 at St Andrews University on GCRF strategy, current and upcoming opportunities and to share best practice and lessons learned from other ODA-related activities, including the Collective Fund Growing Research Capacity and Capability call. VAPAR PI gave the following oral invited presentation: D'Ambruoso L (2017). Verbal Autopsy with Participatory Action Research (VAPAR): expanding the evidence base through partnerships for action on health equity. RCUK GCRF Interdisciplinary Research Hubs Event. University of St Andrews 26th September 2017. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
Description | Radio Series: Amplifying the Voices of Community Health Workers (CHWs) |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Community Health Workers (CHWs) are the interface between the community and healthcare services. South Africa adopted the Ward Based Primary Health Care Outreach Team (WBPHCOT) Strategy in 2011. A five-year Policy Framework and Strategy for WBPHCOT was established in 2018 promoting community participation and empowerment, and inter-sectoral collaboration. However, implementation is constrained, and there is a call for CHW programs to be regarded as a fully-fledged sub-system of the primary health care and district health system, rather than just human resources. The objective of this radio series is to amplify voices of CHWs to inform communities of their scope of practice and their role as the entry point to healthcare services. RFM Series - This radio station is made by and for the youth of South Africa. It is on air every day, for 24 hours with a variety of programs in English, Xitsonga, Sepulane, and Swati language https://radiosa.org/rfm/ |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
URL | https://www.vapar.org/radio-series-amplifying-voices-of-community-health-workers-chws |
Description | Support to government departments: Ehlanzeni District Health Management Team |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
Results and Impact | Mabetha, D & Van der Merwe, M. On behalf of the Verbal Autopsy with Participatory Action Research (VAPAR) Wits/Mpumalanga Department of Health Learning Platform (2021) 1 June 2021. Engagement with Ehlanzeni District Health Management Team on VAPAR project and early outcomes of community health worker (CHW) skills building on community mobilisation, resulting in a request to roll-out this skill building to other areas in the district. Further interest expressed in how the programme can potentially demonstrate the benefit of formally employing CHW in the health system. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
Description | Support to government departments: Ehlanzeni District Health Management Team |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
Results and Impact | Mabetha, D & Van der Merwe, M, On behalf of the Verbal Autopsy with Participatory Action Research (VAPAR) Wits/Mpumalanga Department of Health Learning Platform (2021). Verbal Autopsy with Participatory Action Research (VAPAR). 29th September 2021 Bushbuckridge sub-district health management committee. Engagement on prospective roll-out of community health worker skills building on community mobilisation to the rest of the sub-district. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
Description | Supporting CHWs to connect with communities in rural South Africa during COVID-19. CHW Central |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Blog post: D'Ambruoso L, Twine R, Mabetha D, Hove J, van der Merwe M, Kahn K, Tollman S, Witter S (2021). Supporting CHWs to connect with communities in rural South Africa during COVID-19. CHW Central https://chwcentral.org/twg_article/supporting-chws-to-connect-with-communities-in-rural-south-africa-during-covid-19/ |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
URL | https://chwcentral.org/twg_article/supporting-chws-to-connect-with-communities-in-rural-south-africa... |
Description | TRAINING FOR MPUMALANGA PROVINCIAL HEALTH ETHICS RESEARCH COMMMITTEE |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
Results and Impact | This 2-day training programme was develoepd with VAPAR and the Committee with 4 main intended learning outcomes, to: (1) Describe basic research methodology and design; (2) Understand ethical principles, standards and criteria for ethical review and evaluation of research; (3) Critically reflect on research governance (structures and processes) and monitoring research conduct; and (4) Appreciate the decolonisation imperative in global health research |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
URL | https://www.vapar.org/training |
Description | Talk and panel discussion at Faculty of Public Health in Scotland |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Oral presentation and panel dsicussion at Faculty of Public Health Annual Conference 2022 |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
Description | The Communication Initiative (The CI) - https://www.comminit.com |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Third sector organisations |
Results and Impact | From: Kier Olsen DeVries Date: Wednesday, 7 June 2023 at 14:25 To: D'Ambruoso, Lucia Subject: Re: "Realising radical potential: building community power in primary health care through Participatory Action Research" - CI info/media query CAUTION: External email. Ensure this message is from a trusted source and exercise caution before clicking links/opening attachments. Dear Lucia, Warm greetings again from The Communication Initiative (The CI) - https://www.comminit.com I am writing to let you know that we have added a summary of (your truly excellent paper) "Realising Radical Potential: Building Community Power in Primary Health Care through Participatory Action Research" to The CI website. Please do me the favour of reviewing the summary here - https://www.comminit.com/health/content/realising-radical-potential-building-community-power-primary-health-care-through-partici - and sending along any feedback you may have. I will be glad to make the necessary changes promptly. For more information on our editorial objectives and the principles that guide our posting of information, please see: https://www.comminit.com/global/content/editorial-policy-ci-global We plan to spread the word about this summary via social media and would appreciate it if you might do the same. In the future, this summary may be featured in our e-newsletters, including The Drum Beat and Drum Beat Clicks. If you wish to subscribe to these mailings so you can see when your work is featured and read about other relevant programmes and resources, simply log into your registration page (https://www.comminit.com/global/content/luciadambruoso), once you receive official instructions later today. Please let us know if there are permission-related or other issues with our use of the images/tools/links we placed in the summary; feel free to suggest alternative ones. If we do not hear from you, we will assume your approval. Kind regards, Kier Kier Olsen DeVries, MA Senior Editor, The Communication Initiative Editor, The Drum Beat kdevries@comminit.com https://www.comminit.com Facebook: The Communication Initiative Network https://www.facebook.com/The-Communication-Initiative-Network-344005148956579/ https://twitter.com/warrencomminit https://www.linkedin.com/in/kierolsendevries/ |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
URL | https://www.comminit.com |
Description | The Lancet Global Health - Implementation Science Consultation |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | Date: 2023 Apr 6 Attendees: Prof. Donna Spiegelman (personal link), Yale School of Public Health, biostatistics, working on improve design of epi and IS, mediation/causal analysis, population attributable risks, etc. Prof. Malabika Sarker (personal link), IAB member, Brown University, specialised on mixed methods Prof. Lucia D'Ambruoso (personal link), University of Aberdeen, specialised on HPSR, participatory research Zoë Mullan, Editor-in-Chief Liam Messin, Deputy Editor Kate McIntosh, Senior Editor Pingyue Jin, Senior Editor Theme: what would good implementation science (IS) papers look like? senior editor of the Lancet Global Health and I am writing to ask if you would be interested in helping us with our new initiative on implementation research. We would like to broaden our scope to solicit more implementation research to be submitted and published in our journal, and it would be very helpful to have external experts like you to help keep us on the right track. We have drafted an exposition of our plan on implementation research to be used either as an internal guide or an external announcement, and we plan to invite you to have a Zoom meeting to discuss the whole initiative, especially the evaluation criteria of high quality implementation research (to be included in the exposition). Zoë mentioned you might be interested in helping us with such an initiative, and we very much look forward to working with you. We propose the following agenda to be discussed over the Zoom meeting: 1) your comments and suggestions for the exposition/mission statement (attached); 2) what does a good piece of implementation research look like (perhaps bring one or more published examples of colleagues for discussion) and how to solicit high quality research within TLGH's capacity; 3) further suggestions for our journal regarding this initiative. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
Description | Trends and transitions: Mortality findings and their applications. SA-Medical Research Council On-site Review with Wits University, 14-16 November 2017 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Other audiences |
Results and Impact | The presentation was given as part of an institutional review of the MRC/Wits Rural Public Health and Health Transitions Research Unit (Agincourt). The MRC reviews are done every 5 years to improve health of people through quality research and offering support to the accredited MRC sites. During the review, project managers and coordinators presented about the work they do on various studies emphasising the relevance, success and outcomes of the studies. The event was attended by the South African Medical Research Council (MRC) Review panel consisting of 7 MRC committee members and 3 members from two universities in South Africa. VAPAR was presented highlighting the aims, objectives and significance of the study linking to mortality and verbal autopsy data. The panel was updated on data collection methods used, outcomes and on partners, funders and participants of the study. After the presentation, the panel showed interest on the topics that the villages found to be of importance (lack of water and alcohol and drug abuse). One of the panel members further highlighted the importance of involving and building partnership with health economists in health policy and systems research. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
Description | Twine R, Khoza S, Ngobeni K, D'Ambruoso L, Kahn K, Hundt GL. Strong or weak publics? Opportunities for widening participation of publics in a health and demographic surveillance study area. Sixth Global Symposium on Health Systems Research, November 2020. |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Twine R, Khoza S, Ngobeni K, D'Ambruoso L, Kahn K, Hundt GL. Strong or weak publics? Opportunities for widening participation of publics in a health and demographic surveillance study area. Sixth Global Symposium on Health Systems Research, November 2020. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
Description | VAPAR AT THE 7TH GLOBAL SYMPOSIUM ON HEALTH SYSTEMS RESEARCH |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | VAPAR Co-PI Professor Sophie Witter facilitated an organised session on "Sharing experiential learning from health policy and system research learning sites in diverse settings - how to manage the challenges and maximise the benefits" under the symposium sub-theme "Intersectoral collaboration and integrative governance on the road for health in all policies". VAPAR CI Maria van der Merwe also participated as a panellist, sharing learning for health system strengthening. Under the symposium sub-theme "Systems Performance in the Political Agenda: Sharing lessons for current and future global challenges", Maria van der Merwe presented a poster titled "Strengthening community engagement in primary health care through a collaborative learning platform in rural South Africa". |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
URL | https://www.vapar.org/vapar-at-the-7th-global-symposium-on-health-systems-research |
Description | Who counts? The value of empowerment approaches in research on maternal and child health in resource poor settings. Grand Challenges Lecture, Institute of Global Health and Development, Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh, UK 7 March 2017 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | VAPAR PI, Lucia D'Ambruoso, gave the final seminar of the Institute of Global Health and Development (IGHD), Queen Margaret University, Grand Challenges Seminar Series of the 2016-2017 session. The session was given to a group of academics and postgraduate students at QMU and also delivered as a web-cast whereby people could watch and ask questions online. The discussions afterwards reflected interest and engagement in the topics covered |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
URL | https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/who-counts-the-value-of-empowerment-approaches-in-research-on-materna... |