Health care system design and the integration of information and medical technology in rural South Africa: a critical analysis

Full-time three year PhD studentship funded by the UK Economic and Social Research Council

We are inviting applications for an ESRC Collaborative Doctoral Studentships, starting from October 2012. The funding covers fees, maintenance stipend and support for training.

The Social Science and Systems in Health research unit of the Division of Health Sciences, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick will host a collaborative studentship with GE Healthcare and the School of Public Health at the University of Witwatersrand, South Africa. The successful applicant will become a member of the Warwick Social Science Doctoral Training Centre.

The project for this studentship is a critical analysis of the potential for innovation in health system design, implementation and normalisation in rural South Africa, including appropriate use of information and medical technology. Situated within the field of Health Policy and Systems Research, with a focus on low and middle income countries, the project will draw on multiple theories and perspectives in relation to health care systems and a range of methodologies including interviews, documentary analysis and secondary analysis of health related data.

Field work for the project will be undertaken throughout the second year of study at the Agincourt Health and Demographic Surveillance Site. At this Site an annual census has been undertaken for nearly twenty years with around 90,000 people in the Bushbuckridge rural sub-district in the North East of South Africa. The research unit that manages the site is part of the School of Public Health, University of Witwatersrand. The research will consider the Agincourt Site as a case study with synthesis of theory, policy and data analysis.

The academic supervisors are Professor Frances Griffiths at Warwick Medical School with Dr Jane Goodge and Dr. F. Xavier Gómez-Olivé,School of Public Health at the University of Witwatersrand.

Students for this award should have attained an Honours degree, class 2.1 or above, in a related discipline, and have passed, or expect to have passed by Autumn 2012, a Masters qualification from an ESRC recognised research training course or a Masters degree which includes a substantial research element at 60% or above, or equivalent research experience in a work setting. Previous experience of health systems research, as well as experience of living and/or working in a low or middle income setting will be an advantage. Drivers licence essential.

This studentship is available to Home and EU students, according to fee status, that meet Research Council eligibility requirements based on residency. The University's Admissions Office can provide further guidance on fee status.

The studentship will provide one return air fare for travel from UK to South Africa plus local travel expenses for fieldwork. The student will be expected to reside solely in close proximity to the Agincourt Site for the duration of the second year of study. The student will be given assistance in identifying appropriate accommodation.

The academic contact for enquiries regarding this studentship is Professor Frances Griffiths, email: f.e.griffiths@warwick.ac.uk.

In your application you should explain your motivation and suitability for the award and include some reflections on how the project might be approached. If shortlisted you will be asked to expand on this writing.

To apply please complete the University application form for PhD selecting PhD Health Sciences to ensure your application reaches the supervisor Professor Griffiths. The PhD is a social science PhD and you will be part of the ESRC funded Warwick Social Science Doctoral Training Centre. Indicate in your application that you are applying for this ESRC Collaborative studentship. Application process.

Closing date for applications is 31^st May 2012