title: A scoping review of training and deployment policies for human resources for health for maternal, newborn, and child health in rural Africa.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Most African countries are facing a human resources for health (HRH) crisis, lacking the required workforce to deliver basic health care, including care for mothers and children. This is especially acute in rural areas and has limited countries' abilities to meet maternal, newborn, and child health (MNCH) targets outlined by Millennium Development Goals 4 and 5. To address the HRH challenges, evidence-based deployment and training policies are required. However, the resources available to country-level policy makers to create such policies are limited. To inform future HRH planning, a scoping review was conducted to identify the type, extent, and quality of evidence that exists on HRH policies for rural MNCH in Africa.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fourteen electronic health and health education databases were searched for peer-reviewed papers specific to training and deployment policies for doctors, nurses, and midwives for rural MNCH in African countries with English, Portuguese, or French as official languages. Non-peer reviewed literature and policy documents were also identified through systematic searches of selected international organizations and government websites. Documents were included based on pre-determined criteria.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was an overall paucity of information on training and deployment policies for HRH for MNCH in rural Africa; 37 articles met the inclusion criteria. Of these, the majority of primary research studies employed a variety of qualitative and quantitative methods. Doctors, nurses, and midwives were equally represented in the selected policy literature. Policies focusing exclusively on training or deployment were limited; most documents focused on both training and deployment or were broader with embedded implications for the management of HRH or MNCH. Relevant government websites varied in functionality and in the availability of policy documents.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The lack of available documentation and an apparent bias towards HRH research in developed areas suggest a need for strengthened capacity for HRH policy research in Africa. This will result in enhanced potential for evidence uptake into policy. Enhanced alignment between policy-makers' information needs and the independent research agenda could further assist knowledge development and uptake. The results of this scoping review informed an in-depth analysis of relevant policies in a sub-set of African countries.
authors.affiliation: WHO/PAHO Collaborating Centre on Health Workforce Planning and Research, Dalhousie University, 5869 University Avenue, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 4R2, Canada. gail.tomblin.murphy@dal.ca.
authors.forename: Gail Tomblin
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.forename: Fastone
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Goma
authors.forename: Adrian
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: MacKenzie
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bradish
authors.forename: Sheri
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Price
authors.forename: Selestine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nzala
authors.forename: Annette Elliott
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Rose
authors.forename: Janet
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rigby
authors.forename: Chilweza
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Muzongwe
authors.forename: Nellisiwe
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Chizuni
authors.forename: Amanda
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Carey
authors.forename: Derrick
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hamavhwa
mesh_terms: D000349:Africa; D002648:Child; D002669:Child Welfare; D003906:Developing Countries; D005260:Female; D006291:Health Policy; D006295:Health Resources / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D006280:Health Workforce / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D012424:Rural Population