Innovations: identifying and evaluating local solutions to public health problems in southern Africa
Date
2013
DOI
Authors
Behroozi, Farzaneh
Version
OA Version
Citation
Abstract
In order to address the 10/90 gap and ensure the ‘right to health’ for all, there is a need to identify promising innovations, evaluate them for effectiveness and potential to be implemented at scale. To be of maximal benefit, they must address inequities and access to health in the local context of Southern Africa (taking into account the local disease burden, resource constraints and the complex context of health).
This study proposes a method for identifying innovations and evaluating their impact on health outcomes, equity, implementation and potential for scale-up. It examines seven case examples of local innovation in Southern Africa with an application of this method to identify common themes in innovation, elements for success and common barriers. The research was informed by a grounded theory case study approach, with data collection via the innovative method of documenting projects through film and multimedia. The footage served as a data source as well as the source material for inspiring short films that capture the essence of each innovation.
Innovation could provide an alternative approach to improve public health practice by using community-based solutions that have been proven to work in context. Ideally, innovation and public health research efforts should be combined to focus on key challenges in population health, and encourage a culture of innovation to accelerate progress towards better health. If effective innovations can be scaled up successfully, we may yet achieve Health for All.
Description
License
This work is being made available in OpenBU by permission of its author, and is available for research purposes only. All rights are reserved to the author.