Mass Drug Administration (MDA) is vital in achieving high treatment coverage and controlling and eliminating the spread of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). The Research Triangle Institute provided a report titled “A guide to improving MDA using qualitative methods” to support the use of qualitative methods to strengthen MDA. The guide aims to facilitate adaptive program learnings for MDA by guiding qualitative study design, implementation, analysis, and prioritization of recommendations while complementing the findings with existing knowledge.
This Knowledge Exchange Café session will feature the authors of this report discussing how we can use rapid qualitative assessment to improve Mass Drug Administration (MDA).
View the recording from the session here: https://youtu.be/5rfRiPDP8Oc
Here is a link to the guide: https://www.ntdtoolbox.org/sites/default/files/content/paragraphs/resource/files/2021-07/Qualitative_Research_MDA_Guide.pdf
Speakers and Bios:
Prof. Maggie Baker, PhD, MSc, BSc
Prof. Baker is an associate professor at Georgetown University and her specialty is the design and evaluation of disease control programs, using practical and multidisciplinary approaches, with a focus on lymphatic filariasis and other neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). Prior to working at Georgetown University, Prof. Baker worked 10 years at RTI International and in her last position, she was technical director of the Act to End NTDs | East program supporting delivery of NTD elimination and control programs in 13 counties. She has lived and worked in North and South America, Europe, Africa, and the South Pacific, for a variety of other organizations, including government, academia, and non-profit.
Dr. Elizabeth G. Sutherland Ph.D.
Dr. Sutherland is the Evaluation and Research Specialist at RTI International for the Act to End NTD’s East project and an adjunct professor at the Milken Institute School of Public Health at the George Washington University. Prior to coming to RTI, Dr. Sutherland was the Technical Director for Health Areas on the MEASURE Evaluation project and has 15 years of experience in designing and implementing mixed-method operations research and program evaluation studies in the global health and development space. Dr. Sutherland lives with her family in Durham, North Carolina.
Elizabeth Regan Fitch
Elizabeth Regan Fitch is a Senior Manager on the Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, Learning, and Adapting (MERLA) team in RTI International’s International Development Group (IDG). She has over 14 years of experience supporting the implementation of global health programs, specializing in data system development, capacity building for monitoring, research, and evaluation, implementing human-centered design and participatory research techniques, qualitative and quantitative research, and developing learning strategies to inform better development outcomes. Ms. Fitch has a focus on reproductive, maternal, and child health and family planning but has supported programs across sectors and health areas. Ms. Fitch also has crosscutting experience in program management, program design, and budgeting.
Prior to RTI, she worked in research, monitoring, and evaluation and program management at Ipas, University Research Company, and Population Services International. She has an MPH in Maternal and Child Health from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a M.S. in Psychology from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.
About Knowledge Exchange Café:
The Knowledge Exchange Café is a monthly event which will bring together individuals to network and learn from one another’s research and experience. The emphasis in these discussions will be on the social and behavioural sciences as they relate to Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) and how they help reach the WHO 2030 NTD Roadmap goals. Each Knowledge Exchange Café will include time for networking and conversation to facilitate interaction amongst attendees.
About iCHORDS:
iCHORDS (Improving Community Health Outcomes through Research, Dialogue and Systems Strengthening) Community of Practice is a platform for communication, collaboration and knowledge exchange within social and behavioural science research disciplines to address implementation gaps and current issues facing Neglected Tropical Disease programs.
Register as a member here: https://ichords.org/join-community/
