Promoting equity through health systems research in low- and middle-income countries: Practices of researchers

Abstract

Background: Health systems research is increasingly identified as an indispensable means to achieve the goal of health equity between and within countries. While conceptual work has explored what form of health systems research in low and middle-income countries (LMICs) is needed to promote health equity, there have been few attempts to investigate whether it is being performed in practice. Methods: This paper describes the results of a survey undertaken with health systems researchers worldwide (n = 104) to assess how equity-oriented current practice is in LMICs. Respondents were asked to answer all survey questions in relation to the externally-funded health systems research project in a L..