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Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Sadrivaan A and B (The Hilton Istanbul Hotel )
Introduction: Recently, Vietnam has recognized the importance of addressing adolescent reproductive health (ARH) at the national health policy level. However, policy processes in the health sector are not as strong as they might be and are not leading to the levels of health improvement that we might expect.
Study aim: This research is to enhance and promote the use of evidence and integrated approaches to health policy processes in Vietnam, using ARH as a case study.
Method: The research design was structured around incremental approach (3 Phases), using information from various secondary data sources, 14 key informant interviews and 2 focus group discussions with various stakeholders. Nvivo7 software was used to analyse the data.
Key findings: The development processes were consultative and tended to be top-down, rather than bottom-up with consultations typically more intense at national level. Development process is strong evidence-based policy making. The evidence was mainly assessed with its credibility, level of evidence and power of actors involved in producing and disseminating evidence. Relevant sectors of society with increasingly significant role in ARH were not or inadequately included in the policy development processes including mass media and private sector. Not very effective involvement of civil society in policy implementation at local level was identified. Involvement of young people as a significant stakeholder in the policy process was limited. There is a particularly need to focus on enhancing coordination, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the policies.
Recommendations: There is a compelling need for: Policy advocacy and advocacy relevant research for political will, especially local level to support the ARH policy implementation; Establishment of national follow up mechanisms to involve and support multi-stakeholders, especially private sector, civil society including young people in the whole policy processes at all levels.
Study aim: This research is to enhance and promote the use of evidence and integrated approaches to health policy processes in Vietnam, using ARH as a case study.
Method: The research design was structured around incremental approach (3 Phases), using information from various secondary data sources, 14 key informant interviews and 2 focus group discussions with various stakeholders. Nvivo7 software was used to analyse the data.
Key findings: The development processes were consultative and tended to be top-down, rather than bottom-up with consultations typically more intense at national level. Development process is strong evidence-based policy making. The evidence was mainly assessed with its credibility, level of evidence and power of actors involved in producing and disseminating evidence. Relevant sectors of society with increasingly significant role in ARH were not or inadequately included in the policy development processes including mass media and private sector. Not very effective involvement of civil society in policy implementation at local level was identified. Involvement of young people as a significant stakeholder in the policy process was limited. There is a particularly need to focus on enhancing coordination, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the policies.
Recommendations: There is a compelling need for: Policy advocacy and advocacy relevant research for political will, especially local level to support the ARH policy implementation; Establishment of national follow up mechanisms to involve and support multi-stakeholders, especially private sector, civil society including young people in the whole policy processes at all levels.
Learning Objectives: 1.Describe the process of health policy making. 2.Discuss the importance of evaluating and using evidence in adolescent reproductive health policy (ARH) process. 3.Analyze the role of different actors involving in ARH policy.
Sub-Theme: Public Health and Research: Evidence Based Policy on Health