Incorporating qualitative research methods into the monitoring and evaluation of neglected tropical disease programmes: a scoping literature review.

Margaret C Baker,Kevin Bardosh,Abdel Direny,Alison Krentel,Elizabeth Fitch,Elizabeth G Sutherland,Upendo Mwingira,Pamela S Mbabazi,Laura Dean

doi:10.1093/inthealth/ihab059

Abstract

This publication addresses the limited use of qualitative methods in neglected tropical disease (NTD) programmes. It describes a scoping literature review conducted to inform the development of a guide to inform the use of rapid qualitative assessments to strengthen NTD mass drug administration (MDA) programmes. The review assessed how qualitative methods are currently used by NTD programmes and identified qualitative approaches from other health and development programmes with the potential to strengthen the design of MDA interventions. Systematic review articles were reviewed and searched using key terms conducted on Google Scholar and PubMed. Results show that methods used by NTD programmes rely heavily on focus group discussions and in-depth interviews, often with time-consuming analysis and limited information on how results are applied. Results from other fields offered insight into a wider range of methods, including participatory approaches, and on how to increase programmatic uptake of findings. Recommendations on how to apply these findings to NTD control are made. The topic of human resources for qualitative investigations is explored and a guide to improve MDAs using qualitative methods is introduced. This guide has direct applicability across the spectrum of NTDs as well as other public health programmes.

Highlights

The medically and epidemiologically diverse group of 20 neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) prioritised by the WHO affect more than 1 billion people globally
For the fifth consecutive year, the global NTD community has delivered more than 1 billion treatments annually since 2015.4 Delivery on this scale has resulted in lymphatic filariasis and trachoma elimination as a public health problem in 17 and 11 countries, respectively, and onchocerciasis transmission has been eliminated in four countries in the region of the Americas.[2]
While drawing mainly from the experience of preventative chemotherapy (PC) NTDs, this guide has direct applicability across the spectrum of NTDs, as well as other public health programmes. We conducted this scoping literature review with the aim of gaining a better understanding of how qualitative methods are currently being used by PC NTD programmes on one hand and, on the other, to identify a range of qualitative methods being used in other public health programmes that could drive innovation within the NTD space

Summary

Introduction

The medically and epidemiologically diverse group of 20 neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) prioritised by the WHO affect more than 1 billion people globally. More than 200 000 people die each year from snakebites, rabies and dengue, and hundreds of millions of others have experienced severe disability, disfigurement, stigmatisation and discrimination due to the full range of NTDs.[1,2] Because NTDs affect people living in the most marginalised conditions, progress reducing the burden of NTDs is seen as a proxy indicator for measuring progress towards sustainable development goals and universal health coverage with equitable access to health services, leaving no one behind.[2,3]. The size of this achievement is a testament to what can be achieved when partners (including endemic country governments, the United Nations, donors, pharmaceutical company donation programmes, researchers and nongovernmental organisations [NGOs]) work together

Methods

Results

Conclusion