Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Health research strengthening and operational research needs for improving child survival in India

  • Symposium on Child Survival in India: Part I
  • Published:
The Indian Journal of Pediatrics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Health research can be utilized to improve the policies, interventions and outputs of the health systems, and ultimately the health of individuals and population. This requires systematic evaluation of evidence and its integration into national policies and programs after suitable adoption at the local level. It has been noted that there has been limited focus upon strengthening health research in India, due to weak research systems or institutional mechanisms, lack of trained human resources and enabling environment, absence of well defined priorities, perceived low quality of research, and inadequate funding. Though various vertical and integrated health programs for improving child survival in the country have been introduced, the decline in child mortality has been excessively slow. Operational research, a sub theme of health research, which uses systematic research techniques to provide evidence to the policymakers and program managers, can be used to assess programmatic issues and improve their effectiveness. This article analyzes the current situation of health research in India, describes briefly the process of operational research, and summarizes the areas of programmatic concern and priority topics for future research in five key fields of child health (Newborn health, Immunization, Malnutrition, Disease prevention and control, health systems strengthening). Finally, it outlines the immediate need of strengthening health research system in the country for improving child survival through increased funding, development of institutional mechanisms, building pool of talented researchers and provision of an enabling environment, to facilitate health and operational research in a scientifically credible manner and to ensure wider dissemination of results.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Child Health Programme in India: Major milestones in Child Health. Ministry of Health and Family Welfare; Government of India, New Delhi. Available from: www.mohfw.nic.in/dofw%20website/Child%20healthrti.pdf [cited 26 January 2010]

  2. National Rural Health Mission. Mission Document, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare; Government of India: New Delhi. 2005.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Lahariya C, Paul VK. Epidemiology of 1.95 million annual child deaths in India: analysis for informed decision making. Indian J Pediatr 2010;77:xx (in press)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. National Health Research Systems: Report of an International Workshop. World Health Organization, Geneva 2002.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Pang T, Sadana R, Hanney S et al. Knowledge for better health — a conceptual framework and foundation for health research systems. Bulletin of WHO 2003; 81: 815–820.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Indian Council of Medical Research. Health Research Policy. ICMR Bulletin 2004; 34: 9–10.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Haines A, Kuruvilla S, Borchert M. Bridging the implementation gap between knowledge and action for health: Bull World Health Organ 2004; 82: 724–731.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Peters DA, Yazbeck AS. Framework for Health Policy Research in South Asia. In Human Development Network. Health Policy Research in South Asia: building capacity for reform, Washington DC; World Bank 2004.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Lansang MA, Dennis R. Building capacity in health research in the developing world. Bull World Health Organ 2004; 82: 764–770.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Horton R. North and South: bridging the information gap. Lancet 2000; 355: 2231–2236.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Hyder AA, Akhter A, Qayyum A. Evaluating capacity development for health research in Pakistan: case study on doctoral training. Health Pol Plan 2003; 18: 338–343.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Narang A, Murki S. Research in Neonatology: Need for Introspection. Indian Pediatr 2004; 41: 170–174.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Ryman T, Dietz V, Cairns L. Too little but not too late: results of a literature review to improve routine immunization coverage in developing countries. BMC Health Services Research 2008; 8:134 doi:10.1186/1472-6963-8-134

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Dandona L, Raban MZ, Guggilla RK et al. Trends of public health research output from India during 2001–2008. BMC Medicine 2009; 7:59 doi:10.1186/1741-7015-7017-7059.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. World health Organization. Ad Hoc Committee on Health Research Relating to Future Intervention Options; Investing in health research and development, Geneva 1996.

  16. Global Forum for Health Research. The 10/90 report on health research. Geneva; GFHR, 1999.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Commission on Health Research for Development. Health research: essential link to equity and development. Oxford: Oxford University Press 1990.

    Google Scholar 

  18. Global Forum for Health Research. Monitoring financial flows for health research. Geneva; GFHR, 2004.

    Google Scholar 

  19. World Health Organization. Expanding Capacity for Operations Research in Reproductive Health: Summary Report of a Consultative Meeting, WHO, Geneva 2003.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Framework for Operations and Implementation Research in Health and Disease Control Programs. The Global Fund to Fight Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria. Available from: http://www.theglobalfund.org/documents/me/Framework ForOperations Research.pdf [cited 22 March 2008]

  21. Bang AT, Bang RA, Baitule SB et al. Effect of home-based neonatal care and management of sepsis on neonatal mortality: field trial in rural India. Lancet 1999; 354: 1955–1961.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Bang AT, Bang RA, Reddy MH. Home-Based Neonatal Care: Summary and Applications of the Field Trial in Rural Gadchiroli, India (1993 to 2003). J Perinatol 2005; 25: S108–S122. doi:10.1038/sj.jp.7211278

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Sixth Joint Review Mission (May 25–July 7, 2009): Reproductive and Child Health Program — II. Ministry of Health and Family Welfare; Government of India: New Delhi 2009.

  24. Mid Term Review (September 1–December 8, 2008): Reproductive and Child Health Program — II. Ministry of Health and Family Welfare; Government of India: New Delhi 2009.

  25. Multi-Year Strategic Plan 2005–2010: Universal Immunization Programme. Department of Family Welfare, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare; Government of India: New Delhi 2005.

  26. Gragnolati M, Shekar M, Gupta MD et al. India’s Undernourished Children: A Call for Reform and Action. Health, Nutrition and Population Discussion Paper; World Bank. August 2005. Available from: http://wwwwds.worldbank.org/servlet/WDS_IBank_Servlet?pcont=details&eid=000090341_20051214141828 [cited 22 March 2008]

  27. National Program Implementation Plan RCH Phase II — Program document. Available from: http://www.mohfw.nic.in/NRHM/RCH/guidelines/NPIP_Rev_III.pdf. [cited 22 Oct. 2008]

  28. Government of India. Four Years of NRHM (2005–2009): Making a Difference Everywhere. Ministry of Health and Family Welfare; Government of India: New Delhi 2009.

    Google Scholar 

  29. Paul VK, Dadhich JP. State of India’s Newborns 2004. National Neonatology Forum/ USAID, New Delhi India. 2004.

    Google Scholar 

  30. World Health Organization. Identifying priorities for child health research to achieve Millennium Development Goal 4: Consultation Proceedings, Geneva 2009

  31. Comprehensive plan to assess operational needs of First Referral Units, Madhya Pradesh. Available from http://hsprodindia.nic.in/listdetails.asp?roid=217 [cited 26 January 2008]

  32. Auditing Maternal Deaths, Tamil Nadu. Available from http://hsprodindia.nic.in/listdetails.asp?roid=22 [cited 26 January 2008]

  33. Streamlining drug procurement at appropriate levels of the health system, Tamil Nadu. Available from: http://hsprodindia.nic.in/listdetails.asp?roid=16 [cited 26 January 2008]

  34. Pictorial Tools for behaviour change communication for tribal population, Jharkhand. Available from http://hsprodindia.nic.in/listdetails.asp?roid=212 [cited 26 January 2008]

  35. Government of India. National Health Policy 2002, Ministry of Health and family Welfare, Nirman Bhawan, New Delhi 2002.

    Google Scholar 

  36. Lahariya C. Child Survival and need for wider dissemination of health research. Indian J Pediatr 2008; 75: 1253–1256.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Ghaffar A. Setting research priorities by applying the combined approach matrix. Indian J Med Res 2009; 129: 368–375.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. Rudan I, Gibson JL, Ameratunga S et al. Setting priorities in Global Child Health Research Investments: Guidelines for Implementation of the CHNRI method. Croat Med J 2008; 49: 720–33.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. GRADE working group. Grading quality of evidence and strength of recommendations. BMJ 2004; 328: 1490–1497.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  40. Clark M, Oxman AD. Assessment of study quality, Cochrane reviewer’s handbook 4.1.5 section 6. In Cochrane Library, Issue 4, Oxford: Update Software 2002.

    Google Scholar 

  41. West S, King V, Carey TS et al. Systems to rate the strength of scientific evidence. Rockville MD: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality 2002: 51–63.

    Google Scholar 

  42. Sadana R, D’souza, Hyder AA, Chowdhury AMR. Importance of health research in South Asia. BMJ 2004; 328: 826–830.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  43. Walley J, Khan MA, Shah SK et al. How to get research into practice: first get practice into research. Bull World Health Organ 2007; 85: 424.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  44. Ryman T, Dietz V. The need to improve quality, rigour and dissemination of operations research. Bull World Health Organ 2008; 86: 817–908.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Child Health Resource Centre, National Institute of Health and Family Welfare, New Delhi, India

    Rajesh Khanna

  2. Norway-India Partnership Initiative (NIPI), New Delhi, India

    Prasanna Hota

  3. (Formerly) Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, New Delhi, India

    Prasanna Hota

  4. Department of Community Medicine, G. R. Medical College, Gwalior, India

    Chandrakant Lahariya

  5. National Child Health Resource Centre, National Institute of Health & Family Welfare, Munirka, New Delhi, 110067, India

    Rajesh Khanna

Authors
  1. Rajesh Khanna
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Prasanna Hota
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Chandrakant Lahariya
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Rajesh Khanna.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Khanna, R., Hota, P. & Lahariya, C. Health research strengthening and operational research needs for improving child survival in India. Indian J Pediatr 77, 291–299 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12098-010-0037-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12098-010-0037-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation