Table 5 Thematic content

Meta research

 Systems Thinking/Perspective/Frameworks

4 (3.6%)

6 (5.6%)

49 (28.8%)

 HPSR/HSR

2 (1.8%)

1 (0.9%)

12 (7.1%)

 Ecohealth

4 (2.4%)

Normative goals research

 PHC

2 (1.8%)

6 (5.6%)

6 (3.5%)

 Equity/Fairness

13 (11.7%)

16 (15.0%)

14 (8.2%)

 MDGs/SDGs

3 (2.7%)

2 (1.9%)

4 (2.4%)

 Social determinants of health

1 (0.9%)

5 (2.9%)

Health policy research

 Health Systems-Strengthening/ Reform

13 (11.7%)

27 (25.2%)

36 (21.2%)

 Health Financing/Provider Payments

13 (11.7%)

42 (39.3%)

15 (8.8%)

 Global Burden of Disease

3 (2.7%)

 Health System Resilience/Crisis Response

1 (0.9%)

2 (1.9%)

6 (3.5%)

 Health Governance/Stewardship

10 (9.0%)

7 (6.5%)

20 (11.8%)

 Evidence-Informed Policies/Knowledge Translation

3 (2.7%)

3 (2.8%)

18 (10.6%)

 Health Policy Making Processes

1 (0.9%)

11 (10.3%)

8 (4.7%)

 Health System Assessments

37 (33.3%)

17 (15.9%)

17 (10.0%)

 Program Evaluations

20 (18.0%)

16 (15.0%)

27 (15.9%)

 Scaling up programs

1 (0.9%)

8 (4.7%)

 Global social policy

2 (1.9%)

1 (0.6%)

Health admin research

 Health Workers/Human Resources

7 (6.3%)

3 (2.8%)

14 (8.2%)

 Supply Chain Management

2 (1.9%)

1 (0.6%)

 Community health

3 (1.8%)

 Health information systems

1 (0.9%)

3 (1.8%)

 Patient Satisfaction/System Responsiveness

17 (15.3%)

5 (4.7%)

1 (0.6%)

 Decentralization

2 (1.9%)

Health problems research

 Tropical Diseases

10 (9.0%)

5 (4.7%)

28 (16.5%)

 Noncommunicable Diseases (NCD)

13 (11.7%)

3 (2.8%)

12 (7.1%)

 Malnutrition

2 (1.2%)

 Child and maternal health

5 (4.5%)

4 (3.7%)

24 (14.1%)

 Post-conflict/conflict health

1 (0.9%)

2 (1.9%)

2 (1.2%)

 Pharmacological therapies

2 (1.8%)

3 (2.8%)

11 (6.5%)

 Non-pharma therapies

6 (5.4%)

3 (2.8%)

8 (4.7%)