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Conditions for health system resilience in the response to the Covid-19 pandemic in Mauritania

Bibliographic Data

ID21881135
AuthorsKirsten Accoe (0000-0003-1153-1942, Instituut voor Tropische Geneeskunde, corresponding author), Bart Criel (0000-0002-1452-0088, Instituut voor Tropische Geneeskunde), Mohamed Ali Ag Ahmed (0000-0001-9374-871X, Institut Universitaire de Gériatrie de Montréal), Veronica Trasancos Buitrago (École Normale Supérieure de Nouakchott), Bruno Marchal (0000-0001-7185-022X, Instituut voor Tropische Geneeskunde, corresponding author)
Year2023
Volume8
Issue12
Pagese013943
Publication date2023-12-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueBMJ Global Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2059-7908 • E-ISSN: 2059-7908
PublisherBMJ (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1136/bmjgh-2023-013943
PMID38050409
OpenAlexW4389268084
LanguageEN
Citations received3
References cited46

INTRODUCTION: A country's ability to manage a crisis depends on its level of resilience. Efforts are made to clarify the concept of health system resilience, but its operationalisation remains little studied. In the present research, we described the capacity of the local healthcare system in the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, in West Africa, to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: We used a single case study with two health districts as units of analysis. A context analysis, a literature review and 33 semi-structured interviews were conducted. The data were analysed using a resilience conceptual framework. RESULTS: The analysis indicates a certain capacity to manage the crisis, but significant gaps and challenges remain. The management of many uncertainties is largely dependent on the quality of the alignment of decision-makers at district level with the national level. Local management of COVID-19 in the context of Mauritania's fragile healthcare system has been skewed to awareness-raising and a surveillance system. Three other elements appear to be particularly important in building a resilient healthcare system: leadership capacity, community dynamics and the existence of a learning culture. CONCLUSION: The COVID-19 pandemic has put a great deal of pressure on healthcare systems. Our study has shown the relevance of an in-depth contextual analysis to better identify the enabling environment and the capacities required to develop a certain level of resilience. The translation into practice of the skills required to build a resilient healthcare system remains to be further developed

Capacity building · Conceptual framework · Crisis management · Economic growth · Economics · Environmental resource management · Geography · Health care · Healthcare system · Pandemic · Political science · Psychological resilience · Social science · Sociology · Disaster Response and Management · Global Maternal and Child Health · Medicine · Psychology · Social Psychology · Viral Infections and Outbreaks Research

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Unique citing works3
Citations per year3
Citation span2025 - 2026 (2)
Citation velocitycurrent
Highly citedNo
Citation typesNeutral: 2
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