A case study takes an in-depth, richly described look at a particular event, asking both how and why the event unfolded over time. Prioritizing the perspective of stakeholders, case studies involve qualitative research and triangulation of multiple sources of data. A case study can be a powerful learning and documentation tool for those seeking to understand how organizations and individuals made and acted upon decisions. Global Health Insights has carried out many different types of case studies for clients, including exploratory cases, business cases, and teaching cases.
Project Spotlight:
Global Health Insights is undertaking a qualitative, multi-case study for PATH on behalf of the Access and Delivery Partnership looking at access barriers to two new diagnostics currently being rolled out in Uganda: GeneXpert MTB/RIF® (Cepheid/FIND) for the diagnosis of both tuberculosis and rifampicin resistance in TB patients, and the Alere PIMA™, a low cost, mobile point-of-care CD4 counter for monitoring HIV patient progress. The case study seeks to understand how relevant stakeholders were involved in the roll out of, and creation of access to, Xpert and PIMA in Uganda, and to identify differences and/or similarities in access barriers between the two diagnostics. We focus specifically on factors not typically covered in existing literature on Xpert and PIMA, in particular those related to national health systems, programmatic structures, and coordination bodies. The case study seeks to outline challenges encountered by global and national stakeholders, how such challenges were overcome, and key lessons learned, especially regarding the capacities that global stakeholders feel require strengthening for improved roll out of new diagnostics in the future.