Project CLEFS presents a convergent mixed methods study protocol to identify sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) training needs among communities, educational actors, and primary health care providers in Mali, with data collected from 3153 quantitative participants and 11 interviews plus 27 focus groups.
A lack of qualified human resources in primary health care and SRHR is identified as one of the greatest barriers to population access to standard health services in Mali.
The study adopted a concurrent (convergent) mixed methods design combining quantitative and qualitative approaches.
The quantitative component enrolled 3153 participants across multiple stakeholder groups.
The qualitative component generated data from 11 individual interviews and 27 focus groups.
The study is designed to assess the adequacy between health professional training offered and the actual SRHR needs of service recipients.
The study aims to produce recommendations proposing concrete actions to improve women's and girls' health services and to better adapt future health professionals' profiles to community needs.
This research describes the design and early implementation of a large study in Mali called Project CLEFS, which aims to understand why women and girls often cannot access good sexual and reproductive health services. Mali faces a serious shortage of trained health workers in this area, and the study is designed to find out exactly what kind of training gaps exist — both in terms of what health workers know and how well their training matches what communities actually need. The study gathered information from over 3,000 people including community members, adolescents, health students, teachers, and practicing health professionals, combining surveys with in-depth interviews and group discussions. This research suggests that the problem of poor sexual and reproductive health outcomes in Mali is not just about resources, but also about mismatches between how health professionals are trained and what communities — especially women and girls — actually need. By including many different voices (patients, students, teachers, and community organizations), the study is designed to give a comprehensive picture of where the gaps are and what changes would make the most difference. The qualitative portion, with 27 focus groups and 11 interviews, is intended to capture experiences and perspectives that numbers alone cannot reveal. This research suggests that the findings, once analysis is complete, will be used to make specific recommendations for improving health professional education in Mali, with a particular emphasis on gender equity. This kind of needs assessment is a foundational step toward reforming training programs so that future health workers are better equipped to serve the reproductive health needs of their communities, potentially improving health outcomes for women and girls in the long term.
Abou Malham S, Traoré D, Dicko F, Blouin Genest G, Boudreau J, Sidibé D, et al.. (2025). Assessment of Community Stakeholders' and Health Educators and Professionals' Needs for the Continuous Enhancement of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights in Mali (Project CLEFS): Protocol for a Convergent Mixed Methods Study.. JMIR research protocols. https://doi.org/10.2196/64796