An analysis of the utilisation of research information, in policy making and guidelines for the use of magnesium sulphate in the treatment of eclampsia and pre-eclampsia in South Africa

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dc.contributor.advisorLewin, Simonen_ZA
dc.contributor.advisorHoffmann, Margareten_ZA
dc.contributor.authorDaniels, Karen Lorraineen_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2018-01-09T08:58:34Z
dc.date.available2018-01-09T08:58:34Z
dc.date.issued2006en_ZA
dc.description.abstractBackground: The literature suggests that although the idea of using evidence to inform policy making has come into favour, actualising this idea in practice is complex. Within the framework of these debates this dissertation focuses on the uptake of findings from research into policy making for the use of magnesium sulphate in the treatment of eclampsia and pre-eclampsia within South Africa. Despite the publication over the past decade of evidence suggesting the effectiveness of magnesium sulphate as a treatment for eclampsia and pre-eclampsia, eclampsia remains a leading cause of maternal death in South Africa and in many other low and middle-income countries. This dissertation forms part of a larger study investigating the uptake of research into policy making in South Africa, Mozambique and Zimbabwe. Aim: To describe and analyse the actual and perceived utilisation of research information in policy making and guideline development for the use of magnesium sulphate in the treatment of eclampsia and pre-eclampsia. Methods: This qualitative study triangulated three techniques in order to understand research utilisation in contemporary policy making. The techniques employed were: policy document review, a historical overview and individual qualitative interviews with 15 key informants. Data generated through these methods are reflected upon in relation to each other and within the context of relevant scientific and intellectual debates. Findings: This study shows a positive example of research utilisation in policy making and guideline development. In the late 1990's in South Africa, prompted by factors such as the recent political change, policies and management guidelines were being developed for maternal health. Simultaneously evidence from randomized controlled trials and systematic reviews showed the effectiveness of magnesium sulphate for the treatment of eclampsia and pre-eclampsia. Policies developed during this period make explicit reference to the use of the most recent published evidence. The uptake of this evidence into national policy development is likely explained by the complex interaction of a range of factors: the existence of a previously established evidence-based culture among obstetricians; the movement of "networked" individuals immersed in that culture into key positions in the new government; the involvement of researchers in policy development; and the willingness of individuals and groups to lobby and advocate both for the development of policy and for the use of evidence in that policy. Discussion and Conclusions: The findings highlight the role played by researchers in developing evidence based policies and guidelines. It also points to the complexity of the relationship between knowledge production and the utilisation of research in policy. It suggests that while researchers may not be in control of factors such as political change, they are presented with windows of opportunity that may allow them to affect policy change. Their capacity to affect such change can be enhanced through collective action when researchers are organised through academic networks.en_ZA
dc.identifier.apacitationDaniels, K. L. (2006). <i>An analysis of the utilisation of research information, in policy making and guidelines for the use of magnesium sulphate in the treatment of eclampsia and pre-eclampsia in South Africa</i>. (Thesis). University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Health Sciences ,Department of Public Health and Family Medicine. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/11427/26769en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationDaniels, Karen Lorraine. <i>"An analysis of the utilisation of research information, in policy making and guidelines for the use of magnesium sulphate in the treatment of eclampsia and pre-eclampsia in South Africa."</i> Thesis., University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Health Sciences ,Department of Public Health and Family Medicine, 2006. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/26769en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationDaniels, K. 2006. An analysis of the utilisation of research information, in policy making and guidelines for the use of magnesium sulphate in the treatment of eclampsia and pre-eclampsia in South Africa. University of Cape Town.en_ZA
dc.identifier.ris TY - Thesis / Dissertation AU - Daniels, Karen Lorraine AB - Background: The literature suggests that although the idea of using evidence to inform policy making has come into favour, actualising this idea in practice is complex. Within the framework of these debates this dissertation focuses on the uptake of findings from research into policy making for the use of magnesium sulphate in the treatment of eclampsia and pre-eclampsia within South Africa. Despite the publication over the past decade of evidence suggesting the effectiveness of magnesium sulphate as a treatment for eclampsia and pre-eclampsia, eclampsia remains a leading cause of maternal death in South Africa and in many other low and middle-income countries. This dissertation forms part of a larger study investigating the uptake of research into policy making in South Africa, Mozambique and Zimbabwe. Aim: To describe and analyse the actual and perceived utilisation of research information in policy making and guideline development for the use of magnesium sulphate in the treatment of eclampsia and pre-eclampsia. Methods: This qualitative study triangulated three techniques in order to understand research utilisation in contemporary policy making. The techniques employed were: policy document review, a historical overview and individual qualitative interviews with 15 key informants. Data generated through these methods are reflected upon in relation to each other and within the context of relevant scientific and intellectual debates. Findings: This study shows a positive example of research utilisation in policy making and guideline development. In the late 1990's in South Africa, prompted by factors such as the recent political change, policies and management guidelines were being developed for maternal health. Simultaneously evidence from randomized controlled trials and systematic reviews showed the effectiveness of magnesium sulphate for the treatment of eclampsia and pre-eclampsia. Policies developed during this period make explicit reference to the use of the most recent published evidence. The uptake of this evidence into national policy development is likely explained by the complex interaction of a range of factors: the existence of a previously established evidence-based culture among obstetricians; the movement of "networked" individuals immersed in that culture into key positions in the new government; the involvement of researchers in policy development; and the willingness of individuals and groups to lobby and advocate both for the development of policy and for the use of evidence in that policy. Discussion and Conclusions: The findings highlight the role played by researchers in developing evidence based policies and guidelines. It also points to the complexity of the relationship between knowledge production and the utilisation of research in policy. It suggests that while researchers may not be in control of factors such as political change, they are presented with windows of opportunity that may allow them to affect policy change. Their capacity to affect such change can be enhanced through collective action when researchers are organised through academic networks. DA - 2006 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PB - University of Cape Town PY - 2006 T1 - An analysis of the utilisation of research information, in policy making and guidelines for the use of magnesium sulphate in the treatment of eclampsia and pre-eclampsia in South Africa TI - An analysis of the utilisation of research information, in policy making and guidelines for the use of magnesium sulphate in the treatment of eclampsia and pre-eclampsia in South Africa UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/26769 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/26769
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationDaniels KL. An analysis of the utilisation of research information, in policy making and guidelines for the use of magnesium sulphate in the treatment of eclampsia and pre-eclampsia in South Africa. [Thesis]. University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Health Sciences ,Department of Public Health and Family Medicine, 2006 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/26769en_ZA
dc.language.isoengen_ZA
dc.publisher.departmentDepartment of Public Health and Family Medicineen_ZA
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Health Sciencesen_ZA
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Cape Town
dc.subject.otherPublic Healthen_ZA
dc.titleAn analysis of the utilisation of research information, in policy making and guidelines for the use of magnesium sulphate in the treatment of eclampsia and pre-eclampsia in South Africaen_ZA
dc.typeMaster Thesis
dc.type.qualificationlevelMasters
dc.type.qualificationnameMPHen_ZA
uct.type.filetypeText
uct.type.filetypeImage
uct.type.publicationResearchen_ZA
uct.type.resourceThesisen_ZA
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