Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42463272›Full record

ReviewBMJ global health2026

Strengthening district health systems to achieve Malawi's decentralisation objectives: lessons learnt from Malawi's Blantyre Prevention Strategy.

Betha O Igbinosun, Gift Kawalazira, Darwin Pangani, Sara M Allinder, Yohane Kamgwira, Deborah Hoege, Samden Seunda, Chimwemwe Mablekisi, Stephanie Heung, Jacqueline Crowell and 2 more

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in BMJ global health, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

Betha O IgbinosunCenter for Innovation in Global Health, Georgetown University, Washington, District of Columbia, USA betha.igbinosun@georgetown.edu.ORCID 0009-0005-0468-8820
Gift KawalaziraBlantyre District Health Office, Blantyre, Malawi.
Darwin PanganiMinistry of Local Government, Unity and Culture, Lilongwe, Malawi.
Sara M AllinderCenter for Innovation in Global Health, Georgetown University, Washington, District of Columbia, USA.
Yohane KamgwiraCenter for Innovation in Global Health, Georgetown University, Washington, District of Columbia, USA.
Deborah HoegeCenter for Innovation in Global Health, Georgetown University, Washington, District of Columbia, USA.
Samden SeundaDepartment of Health and Social Services, Blantyre City Council, Blantyre, Malawi.
Chimwemwe MablekisiMalawi National AIDS Commission, Lilongwe, Malawi.
Stephanie HeungClinton Health Access Initiative, Lilongwe, Malawi.
Jacqueline CrowellClinton Health Access Initiative, Lilongwe, Malawi.
Charles B HolmesCenter for Innovation in Global Health, Georgetown University, Washington, District of Columbia, USA.
Beatrice MatanjeMalawi National AIDS Commission, Lilongwe, Malawi.

Funding

Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation INV-002606Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation INV-002606
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The Alma-Ata 'Health for All' Declaration of 1978 emphasised community participation in health systems and the need to 'bring health care as close as possible to where people live and work'. Since then, decentralised approaches that leverage the proximity of local governments to their populations have emerged as the preferred model for health systems over fully centralised structures. The district health system, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, has evolved as a key framework to advance the Alma-Ata vision and strengthen health system governance in decentralised settings. However, implementation has often been hindered by limited local capacity, raising a persistent question: how can district health systems be strengthened to achieve decentralisation objectives? Using Malawi's ongoing Blantyre Prevention Strategy (BPS), a systems-based project designed to build local capacity at district and city levels for HIV prevention, as a case study, this paper-reviews policies and frameworks guiding health sector decentralisation in Malawi and examines how BPS is contributing to strengthening the district health system and supporting broader decentralisation efforts in Malawi's health sector.

Indexed as

Delivery of Health CareHIV InfectionsPoliticsHealth PolicyHumansMalawiPublic Health InfrastructureAIDSGlobal HealthHealth policyHealth systemsHIV

Identifiers

PMID42463272
PMCPMC13384181

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.