Susan Bulthuis

Staff

Susan Bulthuis is a public health specialist and works as an advisor and researcher in health system strengthening (HSS) and sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR).

She is equipped with strong qualitative research skills. Susan mainly works in sub-Saharan African with a specific focus on the francophone countries. One of her key projects is a five year research project designed to scale-up a district level, management strengthening intervention that contributes to universal health coverage in Malawi, Uganda and Ghana. She recently started her PhD about scale-up of health interventions in low- and middle-income countries.

Publications

Assessing the scalability of a health management-strengthening intervention at the district level: a qualitative study in Ghana, Malawi and Uganda

The scale-up of successfully tested public health interventions is critical to achieving universal health coverage. To ensure optimal use of resources, assessment of the scalability of an intervention is recognized as a crucial step in the scale-up process. This study assessed the scalability of a tested health management-strengthening intervention (MSI) at the district level in Ghana, Malawi and Uganda.

Authors

S Bulthuis, M Kok, O Onvlee, T Martineau, J Raven, F Ssengooba, J Namakula, H Banda, P Akweongo, M Dieleman

Year of Publication

2022

Downloads
Download Assessing the scalability of a health Open Access management-strengthening intervention at the district level: a qualitative study in Ghana, Malawi and Uganda
Using a theory of change in monitoring, evaluating and steering scale-up of a district-level health management strengthening intervention in Ghana, Malawi, and Uganda – lessons from the PERFORM2Scale consortium

Since 2017, PERFORM2Scale, a research consortium with partners from seven countries in Africa and Europe, has steered the implementation and scale-up of a district-level health management strengthening intervention in Ghana, Malawi and Uganda. This article presents PERFORM2Scale’s theory of change (ToC) and reflections upon and adaptations of the ToC over time. The article aims to contribute to understanding the benefits and challenges of using a ToC-based approach for monitoring and evaluating the scale-up of health system strengthening interventions, because there is limited documentation of this in the literature.

Authors

S Bulthuis, M Kok, M Dieleman, O Onvlee, R Murphy, P Akweongo, J Namakula, H Banda, K Wyss, J Raven, T Martineau

Year of Publication

2022

Downloads
Download Using a theory of change in monitoring, evaluating and steering scale-up of a district-level health management strengthening intervention in Ghana, Malawi, and Uganda – lessons from the PERFORM2Scale consortium
Plaidoyer Pour L’Avortement Securisé (Dans Les Limites De La Loi) – Mali

L’évaluation a accordé une attention particulière à la pertinence, à l’efficacité, à l’efficience et à la durabilité du projet. Ces dimensions ont constitué les grands domaines d’appréciation des indicateurs liés aux résultats issus du projet. Dès le début du projet, dans les pays concernés, une attention a été accordée au renforcement des sociétés de gynécologues et obstétriciens, ce afin que ces sociétés continuent de prospérer après la fin de la subvention. Par conséquent, l’évaluation a permis d’apprécier dans quelle mesure les sociétés de gynécologues ont acquis des compétences pour assurer la pérennité des interventions. Plus précisément, en ce qui concerne la durabilité des programmes, l’évaluation s’est concentrée sur la probabilité que la SOMAGO et les réseaux poursuivent leur travail d’amélioration de l’accès à l’avortement sécurisé.

Authors

Susan Bulthuis

Year of Publication

2022

Downloads
Download FIGO Rapport Evaluation Finale Mali
Perform2Scale – Synthesis Report

The evaluation of the PERFORM project demonstrated that a management strengthening intervention was effective in enabling district-level, health management teams to improve health district management based on local evidence, solve workforce performance problems and improve service delivery. The Perform2Scale programme scaled-up this intervention in Malawi, Ghana and Uganda.

Authors

J Raven, M Aikins, H Banda, S Bulthuis, K Chikaphupha, M Dieleman, S Huff, M Kok, W Mansour, T O’Byrne, O Onvlee, F Ssengooba, K Wyss, T Martineau

Year of Publication

2022

Downloads
Download Perform_To_Scale_Synthesis report
How district health decision-making is shaped within decentralised contexts: A qualitative research in Ghana, Malawi and Uganda.

This study explores how district-level health system decision-making is shaped by power dynamics in different decentralised contexts in Ghana, Malawi and Uganda.

Authors

S.E Bulthuis, M.C Kok, S Amon, S.A Agyemang, X Nsabagasani, L Sanudi, J Raven, M Finn, J Gerold, O Tulloch, M.A Dieleman

Year of Publication

2021

Downloads
Download How district health decision making is shaped within decentralised contexts A qualitative research in Malawi Uganda and Ghana
Advocating safe abortion: outcomes of a multi‐country needs assessment on the potential role of national societies of obstetrics and gynecology

In 2019 the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) embarked on an initiative that aims to strengthen the capacity of 10 national societies of obstetrics and gynecology (ObGyn) in advocacy for safe abortion. In 2018 needs assessments that entailed a desk study, interviews, and stakeholder workshops were conducted in Benin, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Kenya, Mali, Mozambique, Panama, Peru, Uganda, and Zambia. The general aim of the needs assessments was to gain a deeper understanding of the contextual situation and identify the needs of ObGyn societies in relation to safe abortion advocacy. This paper provides a cross- country analysis of the outcomes of the needs assessments and reflects on the capabilities, barriers, and opportunities to strengthen this role of ObGyn societies.

Authors

Irene de Vries, Lisa Juanola van Keizerswaard, Bianca Tolboom, Susan Bulthuis, Anke van der Kwaak, Jaydeep Tank, Korrie de Koning

Year of Publication

2019

Downloads
Download Advocating safe abortion: outcomes of a multi‐country needs assessment on the potential role of national societies of obstetrics and gynecology
Factors influencing the scale-up of public health interventions in low- and middle-income countries: a qualitative systematic literature review

To achieve universal health coverage, the scale-up of high impact public health interventions is essential. However, scale-up is challenging and often not successful. Therefore, a systematic review was conducted to provide insights into the factors influencing the scale-up of public health interventions in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

Authors

Susan E. Bulthuis, Maryse C. Kok, Joanna Raven, Marjolein A. Dieleman

Year of Publication

2019

Links
Factors influencing the scale-up of public health interventions in low- and middle-income countries: a qualitative systematic literature review
Downloads

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