REBUILD: Research for Building Pro-Poor Health Systems in the aftermath of conflict

Barbara McPake, Sophie Witter, Suzanne Fustukian, David Newlands

In countries affected by conflict, health systems often break down. Emergency assistance is often the main course of care. As recovery begins, so should the process of rebuilding health systems. However, in practice, not enough is known about how effective different approaches are. The ReBUILD Consortium is a research partnership funded by the UK Department for International Development.

We collaborate with partners in Cambodia, Sierra Leone, Uganda and Zimbabwe to explore how we can strengthen policy and practice related to health financing and staffing. In health financing, we are investigating how different financing strategies affect the poorest households. Our work on human resources studies, different management innovations and opportunities for reallocating roles among health professionals.

ReBUILD Website

Loss in childbearing in Malawi: Interpretations and blame

Bregje de Kok

This qualitative study focuses on local interpretations of different forms of loss in childbearing in Malawi: maternal mortaility; induced and spontaneous abortions; perinatal mortality.

Using discourse analysis, the project will document how communities and practitioners interpret loss of the (unborn) child and mother; how these interpretations assign responsibility, blame, and entitlement to care and how they may affect the use and provision of care.

Start Date: November 2012

Funder: Independent Social Research Foundation

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Well being, mental health and social connectedness for refugees

Alison Strang, Rebecca Horn

Levels of social connection along with the types of connections that people have are widely recognised as major contributors to health, mental health and varied aspects of well being. This research programme is developing participatory tools for mapping the social connections of communities and individuals affected by conflict. The aim is to develop simple approaches that can be used by communities themselves to identify the strengths and gaps in their social resources.

We are working with humanitarian agencies to use this approach in the evaluation of psychosocial programmes (Mercy Corps, Terres des homes, UNICEF).

We are currently undertaking a study to explore the relationship between social connection or isolation and understandings of mental health issues amongst refugees in north and east Glasgow.

Start Date: April 2012

Funder: Greater Glasgow and Clyde NHS

PhD Students

Here, we regularly feature some of the exciting projects undertaken by our current research degree students.  Read more...

Technical Assistance

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