Health Research and Evaluation
Evidence for Stronger Health Systems
Somali Researchers Association (SRA) provides research, evaluation, monitoring and data services to organisations working to improve health outcomes in Somalia.
We help government institutions, development partners, health organisations and service providers understand health needs, assess service quality, measure programme results and identify practical opportunities for improvement.
Our work considers the realities of Somalia’s health system, including geographical access, affordability, health-workforce limitations, infrastructure, community awareness and the needs of vulnerable populations.
Our Health Research Areas
SRA can support research and assessments in areas including:
- Health systems and service delivery
- Maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health
- Sexual and reproductive health
- Nutrition and food security
- Communicable diseases and immunisation
- Non-communicable diseases
- Mental health and psychosocial wellbeing
- Community health and health-seeking behaviour
- Health workforce capacity
- Health financing, costs and affordability
- Medicines and medical-supply availability
- Water, sanitation and hygiene in health facilities
- Gender, disability and equitable access to healthcare
- Public-health emergencies and climate-related health risks
How We Support Health Programmes
Health-Facility Assessments
We assess the availability, accessibility and quality of health services. Assessments may review infrastructure, staffing, equipment, medicines, referral systems, privacy, infection prevention, documentation and adherence to service standards.
Surveys and Community Research
SRA conducts household surveys, patient-experience studies, community consultations and knowledge, attitudes and practices surveys. These studies help clients understand how people access, experience and perceive healthcare services.
Programme Monitoring and Evaluation
We support baseline studies, mid-term reviews, final evaluations and third-party monitoring of health programmes. Our work examines programme relevance, coverage, effectiveness, efficiency, sustainability and results.
Data Quality and Verification
SRA reviews health records, programme indicators and reporting systems to assess the accuracy, completeness, consistency and timeliness of reported information. We can also compare reported results with facility records and other source documents.
Qualitative Health Research
Our researchers conduct key informant interviews, focus group discussions and case studies with health workers, government officials, community representatives, patients and programme beneficiaries.
Our Methods
Depending on the assignment, SRA may use:
- Quantitative and qualitative research
- Digital data collection using CAPI and CATI
- Health-facility observation
- Document and patient-record reviews
- Key informant interviews
- Focus group discussions
- Beneficiary and patient interviews
- GPS verification and health-facility mapping
- Statistical and thematic analysis
- Stakeholder consultation and validation workshops
Research involving patients, health workers or sensitive health information is conducted with appropriate ethical safeguards, informed consent, confidentiality and secure data-management procedures.
Typical Deliverables
Our health-sector assignments may produce:
- Health-assessment reports
- Baseline, mid-term and final evaluation reports
- Health-facility scorecards
- Cleaned and validated datasets
- Data-quality assessment reports
- Maps of health facilities and service coverage
- Statistical tables and dashboards
- Policy and programme briefs
- Practical recommendations and improvement plans
Local Knowledge and Nationwide Reach
SRA combines health-sector research expertise with a nationwide field network. Our locally recruited researchers and enumerators understand community structures, cultural practices, local languages and the operating conditions in different parts of Somalia.
This enables us to collect reliable evidence from health facilities and communities in urban, rural and hard-to-reach locations.
Work With SRA
Whether you need a health-facility assessment, community survey, programme evaluation, data-quality review or third-party monitoring assignment, SRA can provide context-sensitive research and technical support.
Contact SRA to discuss your health research and evaluation requirements.