In my recent publication, “Identifying barriers in the malaria control policymaking process in East Africa: insights from stakeholders and a structured literature review” in BMC Public Health, my coauthors and I combine fieldwork with stakeholders and qualitative analysis of the scientific literature. As part of a large multi-faceted research program on malaria policy led by Randy Kramer, in this paper we specifically explore the barriers in the policy process to achieving effective malaria control. We identify certain points in the policy process (as shown the in figure) when barriers prevent advancement of malaria control policy. We then contrast the concerns of stakeholders (e.g. politics; access to research; access to funds) with the focus of the academic literature (technical challenges; health systems). This paper represents an effort for stakeholder driven research and tools, and notes the importance for bridging academic research with policymaking.

Reference:

Paul CJ, Kramer RA, Lesser A, Mutero CM, Miranda ML, Dickinson K. 2015. Identifying barriers in the malaria control policymaking process in East Africa: insights from stakeholders and a structured literature review. BMC Public Health 15(1): 862.