@article{fdi:010086683,
  title = {{E}xploring how social inequalities in health have influenced the design of {M}ali's {SARS}-{C}o{V}-2 testing policy : a qualitative study},
  author = {{B}oivin, {P}. and {G}autier, {L}. and {C}oulibaly, {A}. and {Z}inszer, {K}. and {R}idde, {V}al{\'e}ry},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{I}n the fight against infectious diseases, social inequalities in health ({SIH}) are generally forgotten. {M}ali, already weakened by security and political unrest, has not been spared by the {COVID}-19 pandemic. {A}lthough the country was unprepared, the authorities were quick to implement public health measures, including a {SARS}-{C}o{V}-2 testing programme. {T}his study aimed to understand if and how social inequalities in health were addressed in the design and planning for the national {COVID}-19 testing policy in {M}ali. {A} qualitative survey was conducted between {M}arch and {A}pril 2021 in {B}amako, the capital of {M}ali. {A} total of 26 interviews were conducted with key government actors and national and international partners. {A} document review of national reports and policy documents complemented this data collection. {T}he results demonstrated that the concept of {SIH} was unclear to the participants and was not a priority. {T}he authorities focused on a symptom-based testing strategy that was publicly available. {P}articipants also mentioned some efforts to reduce inequalities across geographical territories. {T}he reflection and consideration of {SIH} within {COVID}-19 interventions was difficult given the governance approach to response efforts. {T}he urgency of the situation, the perceptions of {COVID}-19 and the country's pre-existing fragility were factors limiting this reflection. {O}ver time, little action has been taken to adapt to the specific needs of certain groups in the {M}alian population. {T}his study (re)highlights the need to consider {SIH} in the planning stages of a public health intervention, to adapt its implementation and to limit the negative impact on {SIH}.},
  keywords = {{COVID}-19 ; equity ; design ; planning ; testing ; {M}ali ; {MALI}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{H}ealth {P}olicy and {P}lanning},
  volume = {38},
  numero = {},
  pages = {301--308},
  ISSN = {0268-1080},
  year = {2023},
  DOI = {10.1093/heapol/czac097},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010086683},
}