Prevalence and factors associated with maternal and neonatal sepsis in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objectives: This study aimed to determine the prevalence and factors associated with maternal and neonatal sepsis in sub-Saharan Africa. Methods: This systematic review and meta-analysis used the PRISMA guideline on sepsis data in sub-Saharan Africa. The bibliographic search was carried out on the following databases: Medline/PubMed, Cochrane Library, African Index Medicus, and Google Scholar. Additionally, the reference lists of the included studies were screened for potentially relevant studies. The last search was conducted on 15 October 2022. The Joanna Briggs Institute quality assessment checklist was applied for critical appraisal. Estimates of the prevalence of maternal and neonatal sepsis were pooled using a random-effects meta-analysis model. Heterogeneity between studies was estimated using the Q statistic and the I2 statistic. The funnel plot and Egger's regression test were used to assess the publication bias. Results: A total of 39 studies were included in our review: 32 studies on neonatal sepsis and 7 studies on maternal sepsis. The overall pooled prevalence of maternal and neonatal sepsis in Sub-Saharan Africa was 19.21% (95% CI, 11.46-26.97) and 36.02% (CI: 26.68-45.36), respectively. The meta-analyses revealed that Apgar score < 7 (OR: 2.4, 95% CI: 1.6-3.5), meconium in the amniotic fluid (OR: 2.9, 95% CI: 1.8-4.5), prolonged rupture of membranes >12 h (OR: 2.8, 95% CI: 1.9-4.1), male sex (OR: 1.2, 95% CI: 1.1-1.4), intrapartum fever (OR: 2.4, 95% CI: 1.5-3.7), and history of urinary tract infection in the mother (OR: 2.7, 95% CI: 1.4-5.2) are factors associated with neonatal sepsis. Rural residence (OR: 2.3, 95% CI: 1.01-10.9), parity (OR: 0.5, 95% CI: 0.3-0.7), prolonged labor (OR: 3.4, 95% CI: 1.6-6.9), and multiple digital vaginal examinations (OR: 4.4, 95% CI: 1.3-14.3) were significantly associated with maternal sepsis. Conclusion: The prevalence of maternal and neonatal sepsis was high in sub-Saharan Africa. Multiple factors associated with neonatal and maternal sepsis were identified. These factors could help in the prevention and development of strategies to combat maternal and neonatal sepsis. Given the high risk of bias and high heterogeneity, further high-quality research is needed in the sub-Saharan African context, including a meta-analysis of individual data.Systematic review registration: PROSPERO (ID: CRD42022382050).

Internally displaced persons in Mali facing the COVID 19 pandemic: A qualitative study / Les personnes déplacées internes au Mali face à la COVID-19 : une étude qualitative

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated an already existing security crisis leading to massive population displacements that have been taking place since 2012. Purpose of research: This study aims to explore the representations of internally displaced persons (IDPs) about the existence of COVID-19 and their knowledge about its signs, symptoms, modes of transmission and prevention measures. Methods: The study was qualitative and exploratory. Individual and group interviews were used to collect data from 52 IDPs in six sites in Bamako and Segou. All interviews were recorded and transcribed. Thematic content analysis and N-Vivo software were used. Results: The majority of IDPs believed in the existence of COVID-19 and had good knowledge of the signs, symptoms, modes of transmission and prevention measures against the disease. However, this was not sufficient for the adoption of public health measures. Among those who believed in its existence, some thought that it was a disease of the white and rich. Finally, a group of participants believed in conspiracy theories and claimed that the government and humanitarian organizations were only trying to make money through these campaigns. Conclusion: To our knowledge, this is the first study in Mali to explore IDPs' beliefs and knowledge about COVID-19. These results could inform policies, strategies, and interventions to combat COVID-19 in IDP sites and in the general population.

Introduction: Le Mali fait face depuis 2012 à une crise sécuritaire qui a entraîné des déplacements massifs des populations à laquelle s'est greffée la pandémie de la COVID-19. But de l'étude: Cette étude vise à explorer les représentations des personnes « déplacées internes ¼ (PDIs), c'est-à-dire des personnes forcées de fuir leur lieu d'origine, sur l'existence de la COVID-19 ainsi que leurs connaissances sur ses signes, ses symptômes, les modes de transmission et les mesures de prévention. Méthodes: L'étude est qualitative et exploratoire. Des entretiens individuels et en groupes ont permis de collecter les données auprès de 52 PDIs de six sites de Bamako et Ségou. Tous les entretiens ont été enregistrés et transcrits. L'analyse de contenu thématique et le logiciel NVivo ont été utilisés. Résultats: Dans leur majorité, les PDIs croyaient en l'existence de la COVID-19 et avaient de bonnes connaissances sur les signes, les symptômes, les modes de transmission et les mesures de prévention contre la maladie. Toutefois, cela n'a pas été suffisant pour l'adoption des mesures de santé publique. Parmi ceux qui croient en son existence, certains pensent que c'est toutefois une maladie des blancs et des riches. Enfin, un groupe de participants croyait plutôt en des théories du complot selon lesquelles le gouvernement et les organisations humanitaires ne chercheraient qu'à gagner de l'argent à travers ces campagnes. Conclusions: Il s'agit à notre connaissance de la première étude au Mali explorant les représentations et les connaissances des PDIs sur la COVID-19. Ces résultats pourraient éclairer les politiques, stratégies et interventions de lutte contre la COVID-19 dans les sites PDI et dans la population générale.

Comparaison des coûts du traitement du paludisme en biomédecine et en médecine traditionnelle à Niono (Mali) / Comparison of costs of treatment of malaria in biomedicine and traditional medicine in Niono (Mali)

Introduction. Au Mali, la prise en charge du paludisme se fait à travers la médecine conventionnelle et la médecine traditionnelle, mais peu d'évaluation existe sur les implications fi nancières de ces approches qui coexistent et qui sont pratiqués parfois de manière concomitante. L'objectif de cette étude était d'évaluer les coûts fi nanciers de ces deux approches du point de vue des patients. Méthodes. Ainsi, une étude transversale descriptive impliquant des patients ont été sélectionnés dans trois aires de santé et plus précisément dans des ménages, structures de santé conventionnelle et chez les praticiens de la médecine traditionnelle de Niono, Sirabala et N'Debougou. Des questionnaires structurés ont été utilisés pour collecter des informations. Le calcul du coût de traitement a été utilisé pour comparer le coût moyen de traitement du paludisme en médecine conventionnelle et traditionnelle. Résultats. Au total, 300 patients ont été sélectionnés. 52,7% des patients avaient recouru à la médecine conventionnelle, contre 32% pour l'automédication et 15,3% pour la médecine traditionnelle. Les patients avaient utilisé les ressources de ces trois systèmes de santé pour quatre principaux motifs. Le coût moyen du traitement par épisode de paludisme était estimé à 12,97 Euro en médecine conventionnelle contre 6,24 Euros en médecine traditionnelle. Le coût moyen du traitement de paludisme en automédication à base de médicaments conventionnels ou traditionnels était de 0,82 Euros. Conclusion. Dans notre étude, même si le coût du traitement du paludisme en médecine conventionnelle reste plus élevé que celui en médecine traditionnelle, contrairement aux idées reçues, les coûts des ressources de la médecine traditionnelle ne sont pas aussi bas qu'on le croit.

Introduction. In Mali, malaria management is done through conventional and traditional medicine, but little evaluation exists on the fi nancial implications of these approaches which coexist and are sometimes practiced concomitantly. The objective of this study was to evaluate the fi nancial costs of these two approaches from the patients' point of view. Methods. Thus, a descriptive cross-sectional study involving patients selected in three health areas and more precisely in households, conventional health structures and traditional medicine practitioners in Niono, Sirabala and N'Debougou. Structured questionnaires were used to collect information. The calculation of the cost of treatment was used to compare the average cost of treating malaria in conventional and traditional medicine. Results. Finally, 300 patients were selectionned and 52.7% of patients had used conventional medicine, compared to 32% for self-medication and 15.3% for traditional medicine. Patients had used the resources of these three health systems for four main reasons. The average cost of treatment per malaria episode was estimated at 12.97 Euros for conventional medicine versus 6.24 Euros for traditional medicine. The average cost of treatment of malaria by self-medication with conventional or traditional medicines was 0.82 Euros. Conclusion. In our study, even if the cost of treating malaria with conventional medicine remains higher than with traditional medicine, contrary to popular belief, the resource costs of traditional medicine are not as low as one might think

Challenges and difficulties in implementing and adopting isolation and quarantine measures among internally displaced people during the COVID-19 pandemic in Mali (161/250).

Introduction: Isolation and quarantine are among the key measures that protect internally displaced people (IDPs) against COVID-19. This study aims to identify the challenges encountered by humanitarian actors, and health, political, and administrative stakeholders in implementing these measures. It also describes the difficulties faced by IDPs when adopting them, and the local initiatives developed to overcome those difficulties. Method: We conducted a qualitative survey consisting of individual interviews and focus groups among IDPs, humanitarian actors, and health, political, and administrative stakeholders. The data was collected between November and December 2020 in the Bamako and Ségou Regions of Mali. Interviews were recorded with audio recorders, then transcribed and thematically analyzed using the NVivo 13 software. Findings: The study involved 36 individual interviews and eight focus groups with 68 participants of whom IDPs represented 72.3%. The main challenges reported on IDP sites included difficulties in contacting positive cases, a lack of facilities for quarantine and isolation, a lack of physical space for building new facilities, and a lack of financial resources to support IDPs during isolation and quarantine. The difficulties reported included: changes in social behavior and practices, fear of stigma, a poor level of literacy, and language barriers. To address those difficulties, the local initiatives developed by IDPs included strengthening the awareness of IDPs on COVID-19, early warning of sites' leaders about positive and suspected cases, and setting up a toll-free number to facilitate access to appropriate information on COVID-19. Conclusion: The findings of this study could be used as evidence to guide policy, adjust current strategies and take into account with more focus IDPs, a group with increased vulnerability, in COVID-19 response, more precisely during the implementation of isolation and quarantine measures. By doing so, they will help improve the response to COVID-19, IDPs health, and population health.

Information about COVID-19: Lessons learned from Mali

Introduction. In Mali, information related to COVID-19 is regularly shared by the coordination board against COVID-19 through daily official press releases and situation reports. The goal of this study was to analyze data related to the tested samples; and the confirmed, contacts, recovered and dead cases in order to take lessons for the future. Population and methods. Data from the first 100 days after the detection of the first cases in Mali were collected and recorded on an Excel file before they got analyzed using SPSS 25.0 software. Analyses were descriptive and correlational. Results. We included 14938 tested samples, 2260 confirmed cases, 12864 contact cases, 1502 recovered cases and 117 deaths were reported during the first 100 days of the epidemic. There was a positive correlation between the number of confirmed cases; and the number of tested samples, the number of recovered cases and the number of deaths. These results suggest that the number of confirmed cases increase with the number of tested samples. Conclusion. These results call for more testing and encourage the identification, location and follow-up of COVID-19 cases. They can also be used to support the improvement of data quality and the response to COVID-19. As a result, they can contribute to improve population health

Challenges to the implementation and adoption of physical distancing measures against COVID-19 by internally displaced people in Mali: a qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: For almost a decade now, Mali has been facing a security crisis that led to the displacement of thousands of people within the country. Since March 2020, a health crisis linked to the COVID-19 pandemic also surfaced. To overcome this health crisis, the government implemented some physical distancing measures but their adoption proved difficult, particularly among internally displaced people (IDPs). The objective of this study is to identify the challenges relating to the implementation and adoption of physical distancing measures and to determine the main mitigation measures taken by IDPs to adjust to these new policies. METHODS: An exploratory qualitative research was conducted in Bamako and Ségou, two of the ten regions of Mali. The study counted 68 participants including 50 IDPs, seven administrative and health authorities, and 11 humanitarian actors. Sampling was guided by the principle of saturation and diversification, and data was collected through semi-structured individual interviews (n = 36) and focus groups (n = eight). Analysis was based on thematic content analysis through NVivo software. RESULTS: The main challenges identified concerning the implementation and adoption of physical distancing measures include the proximity in which IDPs live, their beliefs and values, the lack of toilets and safe water on sites, IDPs habits and economic situation, humanitarian actors' lack of financial resources and authority, and social pressure from religious leaders. Implemented mitigation measures include the building of new shelters or their compartmentalization, the creation of income-generating activities and food banks, psychosocial support, promoting awareness of IDPs, and nightly police patrols and surveillance to discourage IDPs from going out. Finally, a call for action is suggested for the actors involved in IDPs support and management. CONCLUSIONS: The study demonstrates the difficulty for IDPs to follow most of the physical distancing measures and informs about the risk of disease spreading among IDPs with its potential consequences. It also shows the inability of mitigation measures to control the outbreak and suggests actions to be considered.

Impact of Pre-antiretroviral Therapy CD4 Counts on Drug Resistance and Treatment Failure: A Systematic Review.

The continuous rising of HIV drug resistance in low- and middle-income countries and its impact on treatment failure is a growing threat for the HIV treatment response. This review aimed to document pre-antiretroviral therapy (ART) CD4 counts, emerging drug resistance, and treatment failure in HIV-infected individuals initiating ART. We performed an online search in PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, African Index Medicus, Cochrane library, and The National Institute for Health Clinical Trials Registry of relevant articles published from January 1996 to June 2019. Of 1755 original studies retrieved, 28 were retained for final analysis. Treatment failure varied between 5% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.7-7.4) and 72% (95% CI: 55-89.6), while resistance varied between 1% (95% CI: 0.47-1.5) and 48% (95% CI: 28.4-67.6). Participants with a pre-ART CD4 count below 200 cell/µl and low adherence showed higher percentages of resistance and failure, while those with CD4 count above 200 showed lower resistance and failure regardless adherence levels. Most frequent resistance mutations included the M184I/V for the nucleoside reverse-transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs), K103N, and Y181 for the non-NRTIs (NNRTIs), and L90M for the Protease inhibitors. Pre-ART CD4 count and adherence to treatment could play a key role in reducing drug resistance and treatment failure. The increased access to ART in resources limited settings should be accompanied by regular CD4 count testing, drug resistance monitoring, and continuous promotion of adherence. In addition, the rising of resistance mutations associated with NRTIs and NNRTIs, suggest that alternative ART regimens should be considered. (AIDS Rev. 2020;22:-0).

The beliefs of Senegal's physicians toward the use of telemedicine.

INTRODUCTION: Telemedicine is seen as a potential solution to improve access to specialist services in underserved areas, but using telemedicine depends on physicians' beliefs regarding its use. Applying the theory of planned behaviour, there are three kinds of beliefs of relevance: behavioural, normative and control beliefs. This study aimed to determine the behavioural, normative and control beliefs of Senegal's physicians regarding the use of telemedicine. METHODS: A qualitative descriptive study involving individual interviews with physicians was conducted between January and June 2014. It included 32 physicians working in public hospitals and 37 physicians working in district health centres. Interviews were taped, transcribed and their content coded thematically using the NVivo 10 software. RESULTS: The most significant positive behavioural belief was that telemedicine makes experts' opinions accessible despite distance; the most important negative behavioural belief was that telemedicine can lead to medical errors. The positive normative belief mentioned most was that patients approve the use of telemedicine, but the negative normative belief mentioned most was that the patients would not approve it. The prevailing positive control belief was that physicians will use telemedicine if it is easy to use and the most cited negative control belief was that physicians will not use telemedicine if they have insufficient time. CONCLUSION: The results of this study provide a better understanding of the beliefs of Senegal's physicians regarding telemedicine, which can help in designing interventions to promote its use. Such interventions may help improve access to healthcare in rural areas.

Determinants of the Intention of Senegal's Physicians to Use Telemedicine in Their Professional Activities.

BACKGROUND: In Senegal, physicians are unevenly distributed, leading to unequal access to healthcare in underserved areas. Telemedicine is seen as a potential means to address this problem. INTRODUCTION: Telemedicine's potential to improve access depends, in part, on physicians' intention to use the technology. In Senegal that intention is not well known. This study aimed to determine that intention and the factors that influence it. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study between January and February 2015 with a random sample of 168 physicians working in public hospitals and 153 in district health centers in Senegal. Data were collected using two questionnaires and analyzed using descriptive statistics, correlations, and linear regression. RESULTS: The intention to use telemedicine by physicians working in public hospitals and district health centers was moderate and was positively correlated with their attitude, subjective norm, and perceived behavioral control. The intention of the physicians working in public hospitals was also positively correlated with their region and status as contract employee, but negatively with their status as government employee. That of the physicians working in district health centers was negatively correlated with their age and years of practice. DISCUSSION: These results showed that, overall, the intention of Senegal's physicians to use telemedicine was moderate and could be improved by acting on factors related to their perceived behavioral control and other factors correlated with their intention. CONCLUSIONS: Physicians' intention to use telemedicine in Senegal is fair but could be improved by addressing the factors identified in this study.

Physicians' perceptions on the impact of telemedicine on recruitment and retention in underserved areas: a descriptive study in Senegal.

BACKGROUND: Similar to many places, physicians in Senegal are unevenly distributed. Telemedicine is considered a potential solution to this problem. This study investigated the perceptions of Senegal's physicians of the impact of telemedicine on their recruitment to and retention in underserved areas. METHODS: We conducted individual interviews with a random sample of 60 physicians in Senegal, including 30 physicians working in public hospitals and 30 physicians working in district health centres between January and June 2014, as part of a mixed methods study. Data were collected using a semi-structured interview guide comprising both open- and close-ended questions. Interviews were recorded, transcribed and coded thematically using NVivo 10 software using a priori and emergent codes. Participants' characteristics were analyzed descriptively using SPSS 23. RESULTS: The impact of telemedicine on physicians' recruitment and retention in underserved areas was perceived with some variability. Among the physicians who were interviewed, most (36) thought that telemedicine could have a positive impact on their recruitment and retention but many (24) believed the opposite. The advantages noted by the first included telemedicine's ability to break their professional isolation and reduce the stress related to this, facilitate their distance learning and improve their working conditions. They did acknowledge that it is not sufficient in itself, an opinion also shared by physicians who did not believe that telemedicine could affect their recruitment and retention. Both identified contextual, economic, educational, family, individual, organizational and professional factors as influential. CONCLUSION: Based on these opinions of physicians, telemedicine promotion is one intervention that, alongside others, could be promoted to assist in addressing the multiple factors that influence physicians' recruitment and retention in underserved areas.

The individual and contextual determinants of the use of telemedicine: A descriptive study of the perceptions of Senegal's physicians and telemedicine projects managers.

Telemedicine is considered to be an effective strategy to aid in the recruitment and retention of physicians in underserved areas and, in doing so, improve access to healthcare. Telemedicine's use, however, depends on individual and contextual factors. Using a mixed methods design, we studied these factors in Senegal based on a micro, meso and macro framework. A quantitative questionnaire administered to 165 physicians working in public hospitals and 151 physicians working in district health centres was used to identify individual (micro) factors. This was augmented with qualitative descriptive data involving individual interviews with 30 physicians working in public hospitals, 36 physicians working in district health centres and 10 telemedicine project managers to identify contextual (meso and macro) factors. Physicians were selected using purposeful random sampling; managers through snowball sampling. Quantitative data were analyzed descriptively using SPSS 23 and qualitative data thematically using NVivo 10. At the micro level, we found that 72.1% of the physicians working in public hospitals and 82.1% of the physicians working in district health centres were likely to use telemedicine in their professional activities. At the meso level, we identified several technical, organizational and ethical factors, while at the macro level the study revealed a number of financial, political, legal, socioeconomic and cultural factors. We conclude that better awareness of the interplay between factors can assist health authorities to develop telemedicine in ways that will attract use by physicians, thus improving physicians' recruitment and retention in underserved areas.

[Missing Data In The Medical Registers Held By The Physicians Of Bamako's Community Health Centres]. / DonnÉes Manquantes des Registres de Consultations Médicales des Centres de Santé Communautaires de Bamako.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of missing data in the medical registers held by the physicians of Bamako's community health centres, and identify physicians' characteristics associated with the prevalence. METHODOLOGY: A cross-sectional and exploratory study was conducted between January and February 2011. The study population consisted of doctors, and data from their medical consultations. The sample was selected using three-stage sampling. Data were collected through closed-ended questionnaire and record counting. Data analysis was descriptive and analytic. RESULTS: The study involved 32 doctors and data from 3072 medical consultations. Physicians were predominantly male (87.5%). The prevalence of missing data ranged from 0.1% to 95.4% and was higher for diagnoses (15.5%), treatments (17.3%) and observations (95.4%). Missing diagnoses were determined by the number of years in the position, and the number of years of service. Missing treatments were determined by data management training, the number of years in the position and the number of years of service. CONCLUSION: The extent of missing diagnoses, missing treatments and missing observations raise doubts on the quality of health information, effectiveness of health decisions and effectiveness of health interventions.

OBJECTIFS: Déterminer les prévalences des données manquantes des registres de consultations des médecins des centres de santé communautaires de Bamako et identifier les caractéristiques des médecins qui leurs sont associées. MÉTHODOLOGIE: Nous avons réalisé une étude transversale et exploratoire entre janvier et février 2011. La population d'étude était constituée des médecins et de leurs consultations médicales. Les échantillons ont été sélectionnés à travers le sondage à trois degrés. Un questionnaire fermé et une fiche de dépouillement ont été utilisés pour collecter les données. L'analyse des données a été descriptive, puis analytique. RÉSULTATS: L'étude a porté sur 32 médecins et 3072 consultations médicales. Les médecins étaient majoritairement des hommes (87,5 %). Les prévalences de données manquantes variaient de 0,1 % à 95,4 % et étaient plus élevées pour les diagnostics (15,5 %), les traitements (17,3 %) et les observations (95,4 %). Les diagnostics manquants étaient déterminés par le nombre d'années au poste et de service, et les traitements manquants par la formation à la gestion des données, le nombre d'années au poste et de service. CONCLUSION: L'ampleur des diagnostics, des traitements et des observations manquants laisse planer des doutes sur la qualité de l'information sanitaire, l'efficacité des décisions et celle des interventions.

Supporting health professionals through information and communication technologies: a systematic review of the effects of information and communication technologies on recruitment and retention.

UNLABELLED: Healthcare personnel shortage is a growing concern in many countries, especially in remote areas, where it has major consequences on the accessibility of health services. Information and communication technologies (ICTs) have often been proposed as having positive effects on certain dimensions of the recruitment and retention of professionals working in the healthcare sector. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to explore the impact of interventions using ICTs on recruitment and retention of healthcare professionals. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A systematic review of the literature was conducted, including the following steps: exploring scientific and gray literature through established criteria and data extraction of relevant information by two independent reviewers. RESULTS: Of the 2,225 screened studies, 13 were included. Nine studies showed a positive, often indirect, influence that ICTs may have on recruitment and retention. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the conclusions of 9 of 13 studies reporting a possible positive influence of ICTs on the recruitment and retention of healthcare professionals, these results highlight the need of a deeper reflection on that topic. Therefore, more research is needed.

Supporting work practices through telehealth: impact on nurses in peripheral regions.

BACKGROUND: In Canada, workforce shortages in the health care sector constrain the ability of the health care system to meet the needs of its population and of its health care professionals. This issue is of particular importance in peripheral regions of Quebec, where significant inequalities in workforce distribution between regions has lead to acute nursing shortages and increased workloads. Information and communication technologies (ICTs) are innovative solutions that can be used to develop strategies to optimise the use of available resources and to design new nursing work practices. However, current knowledge is still limited about the real impact of ICTs on nursing recruitment and retention. Our aim is to better understand how work practice reorganization, supported by ICTs, and particularly by telehealth, may influence professional, educational, and organizational factors relating to Quebec nurses, notably those working in peripheral regions. METHODS/DESIGN: First, we will conduct a descriptive study on the issue of nursing recruitment. Stratified sampling will be used to select approximately twenty innovative projects relating to the reorganization of work practices based upon ICTs. Semi-structured interviews with key informants will determine professional, educational, and organizational recruitment factors. The results will be used to create a questionnaire which, using a convenience sampling method, will be mailed to 600 third year students and recent graduates of two Quebec university nursing faculties. Descriptive, correlation, and hierarchical regression analyses will be performed to identify factors influencing nursing graduates' intentions to practice in peripheral regions. Secondly, we will conduct five case studies pertaining to the issue of nursing retention. Five ICT projects in semi-urban, rural, and isolated regions have been identified. Qualitative data will be collected through field observation and approximately fifty semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders. DISCUSSION: Data from both parts of this research project will be jointly analysed using triangulation of researchers, theoretical approaches, methods, and results. Continuous exchanges with decision makers and periodic knowledge transfer activities are planned to facilitate the dissemination and utilization of research results in policies regarding the nursing recruitment and retention.