Mixed Methods Research for Health Policy Development in Africa: The Case of Identifying Very Poor Households for Health Insurance Premium Exemptions in Ghana

Abstract

Despite the utility of applying mixed methods research to understand complex phenomenon, few studies have applied this approach to health policy and in Africa. This article illustrates the application of mixed methods research to inform health policy in Ghana with the intent of complementarity. Through an exploratory sequential mixed methods research design involving 24 focus group interviews and 417 household surveys, we developed criteria for identifying very poor households for health insurance premium exemptions in Ghana. The qualitative procedures identified communities’ concerns regarding being very poor: food insecurity, lack of seeds to sow, compromised access to education, financial insecurity, and status as unemployed widows with children. The survey findings illustrated the distribution and predictors of poverty in the Kassena-Nankana District. Based on these findings, the authors proposed a four-question survey for the Kassena-Nankana District Health Insurance Scheme to administer to determine extreme poverty. Based on these recommendations, the local government has a unique opportunity to increase the very poor’s access to and utilization of health care services.

Mixed methods research on satisfaction with basic medical insurance for urban and rural residents in China

“…Moreover, MMR is essential for generating data for health policy formation in developing countries [27]. Therefore, MMR has received considerable attention in health services research [28,29].…”

Call for Papers for a Special Issue on COVID-19 and Novel Mixed Methods Methodological Approaches During Catastrophic Social Changes

“…What role could mixed methods play in public health interventions in communities (DeJonckheere et al, 2019; Pinto et al, 2014)? How could the impact on the most vulnerable be assessed and shared effectively with policy makers (Alatinga & Williams, 2019)? How could the arts and humanities be orchestrated and evaluated to cope with the tragedy (See wordcloud, Figure 1)?…”

New Requirements to Include the Methodological Contribution in Articles Published in the Journal of Mixed Methods Research

“…In ''empirical mixed methods methodological articles,'' authors must also emphasize the contribution of using mixed methods to the specific topic or content area studied. In their empirical mixed methods study, Alatinga and Williams (2019) discussed the implications for their content area by discussing health policy implications, and then methodological implications of fit, and the implications for conducting mixed methods research in Africa. Therefore, for both empirical studies and methodological/theoretical discussions, authors must emphasize how their manuscripts advance the mixed methods literature, their recommendations for other scholars interested in the addressed topic, and limitations of the content and future directions.…”