HSRC Integrated Annual Report 2018/2019

Department of Health’s framework and guidelines for NCDs. Over 380 CHWs were successfully trained. A number of lessons were learned from the project. Firstly, patients referred to health care facilities for confirmatory diagnosis do not always arrive at the clinic and some refuse referrals. The project used patient follow-up strategies, including phone calls and health education, to persuade them to visit the facility. Secondly, some patients who visited the facility were not able to be tested, due to the capacity of the facility to confirm diagnoses. Thirdly, the implementation of HealthRise was relatively short, and longer time frames are needed to trace patients for improved management and control. Teen MomConnect The Teen MomConnect study tests the use of a combined, tailoredM-Health programandmotivational interviewing intervention to deliver health education to pregnant teenage girls. MomConnect is an existing intervention used by the National Department of Health, and uses cell phones to register pregnancies on a central database, following which health promotion SMS messages, that are designed to encourage antenatal clinic attendance and better care, are sent to pregnant women. However, the messages are more cognitively appropriate for adult pregnant women than for teenagers. The current project, Teen MomConnect, is designed to be a youth-friendly programme more easily received by adolescents. The existing MomConnect messages have been tailored by age, motivational variables, appointment adherence, language and culture. Research staff also delivered motivational interviewing counselling to the pregnant teenagers. Through a consultative process involving focus groups with pregnant teenagers, and behavioural science theories, an SMS message library was developed with tailored messages relating to antenatal appointment keeping, pregnancy knowledge, self-care, nutrition, HIV and TB testing, and substance use during pregnancy. The project has recruited over 200 participants for evaluation of the intervention. RIA Profile RIA is a cross-cutting unit with transversal responsibilities, that seeks to enhance the use and impact of scientific research, and to manage the relationships, reputation and brand of the HSRC. Highlights Satisfaction Levels with Services Provided by Parliament The post 1994 National Parliament has made innovative efforts to be a research-informed, consultative, reflexive and accountable institution. In December 2015, Parliament tasked the High Level Panel on the Assessment of Key Legislation and the Acceleration of Fundamental Change (HLP) with undertaking an assessment of the content and implementation of legislation passed since 1994 in relation to its effectiveness and possible unintended consequences. As a follow-up and parallel process to this examination of effectiveness and unintended consequences, in 2018 RIA was tasked with establishing satisfaction levels with the services provided by Parliament. An online survey of 306 stakeholders revealed varying levels of dissatisfaction with the services offered. Stakeholders in the commercial, research, NGO, academic and government sectors were generally less impressed with the services offered by Parliament than were MPs and parliamentary employees (including researchers and policy advisors). Up to half of the external stakeholders were not satisfied that Parliament was adequately promoting public participation, disseminating appropriate information and education, and allowing public access. The tentative conclusions reached with Parliamentary Communication Services (the client) were that continuity in structured engagements across the five yearly terms of Parliament, more targeted stakeholder relationship campaigns, and RESEARCH USE AND IMPACT ASSESSMENT (RIA) HSRC INTEGRATED ANNUAL REPORT 2018/19 / 41