The contribution of qualitative research within the PRECISE study in sub-Saharan Africa.

Journal: Reproductive health

Volume: 17

Issue: Suppl 1

Year of Publication: 2021

Affiliated Institutions:  Department of Women and Children's Health, School of Life Course Science, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, King's College London, th Floor, Becket House, Lambeth Palace Road, London, SE EU, UK. Medical Research Council Unit in The Gambia, the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK. Centre of Excellence in Women and Child Health, East Africa, Aga Khan University in East Africa, Nairobi, Kenya. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada. Department of Health Service & Population Research, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience,, King's College London, London, UK. Department of Surveying and Geomatics, Faculty of Science and Technology, Midlands State University, Gweru, Zimbabwe. MARCH Centre, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK. Centro de Investigação em Saúde de Manhiça, Manhiça, Maputo Province, Mozambique. Department of Public Health and Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Malawi College of Medicine, Blantyre, Malawi. Department of Women and Children's Health, School of Life Course Science, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, King's College London, th Floor, Becket House, Lambeth Palace Road, London, SE EU, UK. jane.sandall@kcl.ac.uk.

Abstract summary 

The PRECISE Network is a cohort study established to investigate hypertension, fetal growth restriction and stillbirth (described as "placental disorders") in Kenya, Mozambique and The Gambia. Several pregnancy or birth cohorts have been set up in low- and middle-income countries, focussed on maternal and child health. Qualitative research methods are sometimes used alongside quantitative data collection from these cohorts. Researchers affiliated with PRECISE are also planning to use qualitative methods, from the perspective of multiple subject areas. This paper provides an overview of the different ways in which qualitative research methods can contribute to achieving PRECISE's objectives, and discusses the combination of qualitative methods with quantitative cohort studies more generally.We present planned qualitative work in six subject areas (health systems, health geography, mental health, community engagement, the implementation of the TraCer tool, and respectful maternity care). Based on these plans, with reference to other cohort studies on maternal and child health, and in the context of the methodological literature on mixed methods approaches, we find that qualitative work may have several different functions in relation to cohort studies, including informing the quantitative data collection or interpretation. Researchers may also conduct qualitative work in pursuit of a complementary research agenda. The degree to which integration between qualitative and quantitative methods will be sought and achieved within PRECISE remains to be seen. Overall, we conclude that the synergies resulting from the combination of cohort studies with qualitative research are an asset to the field of maternal and child health.

Authors & Co-authors:  Daniele Martinez-Alvarez Etyang Vidler Salisbury Makanga Musitia Flint-O'Kane Brown Diallo Boene Stones von Dadelszen Magee Sandall

Study Outcome 

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Statistics
Citations :  Lawlor DA, Andersen A-MN, Batty GD. Birth cohort studies: past, present and future. Int J Epidemiol. 2009;38(4):897–902.
Authors :  16
Identifiers
Doi : 58
SSN : 1742-4755
Study Population
Male,Female
Mesh Terms
Child
Other Terms
Study Design
Cohort Study
Study Approach
Quantitative,Qualitative,Mixed Methods
Country of Study
Gambia
Publication Country
England