Research Programs

This project studies health management information systems in Somalia. We gather information on the availability of functioning systems in place, and identifiy needs for human and technical support. This will be used to implement a unified system for improved maternal and child health care. This project uses a participatory action research and multi-method approach to guide the integration of Somalia’s Health Management Information System (HMIS). It is divided into several phases. The first phase established a baseline for the programme. A needs assessment to identify the capacity needs for human and technical support was carried out in the selected regions in 2020–2021. The second phase focuses on process evaluation which entails systematic monitoring and evaluation of the design and implementation processes for the integrated HMIS in selected clinics in three Somali regions (Banaadir, Galmudug and Puntland). This phase will adapt an action and reflection cycle that will provide continuous feedback to the design and implementation process to ensure incremental improvement and risk management of the system. In the later stages of implementation, outcome evaluation will provide lessons learned in effective implementation, utilization and scale up of HMIS in Somalia. It will contribute towards the development of sustainability model for integrating HMIS in Somalia and beyond. This project is carried out by the centre SPIDER at the Department of Computer and Systems Sciences at Stockholm University, in collaboration with Somali research organisation SIDRA and technical partner KasmoDev. The HADDA project combines research and implementation. To achieve a cohesive HMIS, HADDA collaborates closely with the federal and regional Ministries of Health in the development of an integrated HMIS that is feasible for both member states and federal organisations. SPIDER has also engaged in collaboration and dialogue with WHO, UNICEF, the Swedish Public Health Agency and Somali National Health Institute. Read more about the project

Vaccine-preventable diseases remain an important cause of disease and death among children in conflict-affected settings. Reaching children with vaccines in conflict settings is a complex undertaking, involving many autonomous global, national and local actors, and, often, limited governmental effectiveness in the crisis setting. As a result, decision-making around vaccination services often lacks structure and transparency. Through this study, we aim to better understand how decisions are made about vaccines for children in conflict settings, including: which vaccines, how and where to deliver them and to whom. Using the study findings, we intend to generate and disseminate recommendations to different stakeholders to improve equitable delivery of vaccines to zero-dose children in conflict-affected settings.  The multi-disciplinary team is made up of academics and practitioners from LSHTM, the SIDRA Institute Somalia, and the Public Health Training and Research Unit (PHTRU), Ahfad University for Women in Sudan. Find out more about RAISE