We shall produce two mixed methods systematic reviews

1. Demand generation for FP

2. Scaling up post pregnancy FP

To inform a technical consultation of experts scheduled this month.

Mixed methods systematic reviews (MMSRs)

Mixed methods research syntheses

Mixed research syntheses

Informed by two research paradigms,

• Positivism

• Constructivism

Positivism is associated with quantitative studies

Constructivism is associated with qualitative studies

MMSRs bring together the 2 paradigms to allow better understanding of whether and how an intervention works and inform subsequent clinical and policy decision making.

• The sequential approach

• The convergent approach

  • convergent integrated

  • convergent segregated

A process of combining extracted data from quantitative studies and qualitative studies

The process involves data transformation.

Data transformation can occur either

• Quantitizing: a process in which qualitative data are assigned numerical values, or

• Qualitizing: refers to quantitative data being converted into themes, categories, typologies, or narratives.

Recommendation: QUANT –> QUAL

Because codifying quantitative data is less error-prone than attributing numerical values to qualitative data.

The rationale is intuitive: Think BP measurement and Hypertension

Investigators can conduct a thematic synthesis in three ways:

• inductive (theory-building approach: themes derived from data),

• deductive (theory-driven approach: data assigned to predefined themes), and

• hybrid deductive inductive approach

Formulate a review question

Define eligibility criteria

Apply a comprehensive search strategy

Identify potentially relevant studies

Select relevant studies

Extract data

Appraise the quality of included studies

Synthesize included studies

• Full text inclusion/exclusion - 4-Aug

• Extract data - 8-Aug

• Quality Appraisal - 12-Aug

• Final step: Thematic Qual synthesis using the deductive approach

• Read the methods section and Look for
• Demand generation methods
  • Interpersonal communications: group discussions, one-on-one discussions, health worker counselling.
  • Mass media: radio, television, newspapers, social media, billboards.
  • Innovative financing interventions: vouchers, cash transfers.
• Scaling up methods
  • healthcare infrastructure-related (e.g., providing medical equipment)
  • policy-related (e.g., revising policy)
  • financing-related (e.g., changing payment mechanisms),
  • provider-related (e.g., training, deployment, changing roles),
  • patient-related (e.g., involving public in recruitment or promotion)