| dc.description.abstract | BACKGROUND: Health policy and systems research and analysis (HPSR&A) is central to health
systems development as it tries to draw a comprehensive picture of how the health system and
broader determinants of health can shape and be shaped by policies. It consists of researchers
and practitioners with different levels of knowledge, experience and expertise, and draws upon
a blend of disciplines that contribute to better understanding of complex health systems. This
diversity of disciplines and competence creates potential risk for lack of clarity and common
understanding of HPSR&A, and reflects a need for continuous capacity development at all
levels. The Health Policy Research Group (HPRG) of the College of Medicine, University of
Nigeria Enugu campus (COMUNEC) has in the past thirteen years undertaken activities that
aimed to contribute to building capacity for HPSR&A in Enugu state.
AIM: The study examines the contributions of HPRG in building individual, institutional and
regional capacity for HPSR&A in Enugu state, using the concept of Communities of Practice
as an analytic lens.
METHODOLOGY: This is a descriptive cross-sectional study that uses qualitative research methods
to examine the contributions of HPRG’s activities in building individual, organizational and
regional capacity for HPSR&A, and to explore the factors that have influenced these
contributions. The study population consisted of researchers, lecturers, policymakers and
practitioners who have been involved in HPSR&A projects undertaken for the past thirteen
years in HPRG. Purposive sampling with sequential referral was done and only key informants
who met the selection criteria were selected. Data was collected through in-depth key informant
interviews and review of relevant project reports and documents, and analysed manually
through thematic analysis. Rigour was ensured through reflexivity, audit trail and triangulation
of data. | |
