Research and implementation interactions in a social accountability study: utilizing guidance for conducting process evaluations of complex interventions.

Background: In recent years, researchers and evaluators have made efforts to identify and use appropriate and innovative research designs that account for the complexity in studying social accountability. The relationship between the researchers and those implementing the activities and how this impacts the study have received little attention. In this paper, we reflect on how we managed the relationship between researchers and implementers using the United Kingdom Medical Research Council (MRC) guidance on process evaluation of a complex intervention.

Factors affecting production of competent health workforce in Tanzanian health training institutions: a cross sectional study.

Background: In 2008, the government of Tanzania adopted a competency-based education and training (CBET) system to improve medical training. Yet there are still frequent observations of competency deficits among graduates, suggesting that the goal has not sufficiently been met. This study was designed to assess the underlying context of competency deficits in the health workforce in Tanzania and to provide recommendations for improvement.

Accounting for complexity - Intervention design in the context of studying social accountability for reproductive health.

: Social accountability interventions aim to propel change by raising community voices and holding duty bearers accountable for delivering on rights and entitlements. Evidence on the role of such interventions for improving community health outcomes is steadily emerging, including for sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). However, these interventions are complex social processes with numerous actors, multiple components, and a highly influential local context.

The magnitude of abortion complications in Kenya.

Objective: To estimate and describe the magnitude of abortion complications presenting at public hospitals in Kenya.

Design: Cross-sectional descriptive study.

Setting: Hospital-based.