The Research Unit is responsible for creating awareness of the need and usefulness of research information at all levels of the health system and ensuring that health research information is disseminated and used. This unit is mainly concerned with the conduct of Health Systems Research [HSR] i.e. assessing the effectiveness of health care interventions, evaluation of health programmes and epidemiological studies.

Survey on Knowledge, Perception, Preventive Behaviour and Impact of COVID-19 in the Island of Mauritius

The Mauritius Institute of Health in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Wellness and the World Health Organisation is conducting a study to asses public knowledge, risk perception, preventive behaviour and impact of COVID 19.

The overall aim of the study is to inform the COVID-19 outbreak response measures, including policies, interventions and communications so as to help stop the spread of COVID-19.

Data collection for the study is now completed. Preliminary results were presented to the Minister and other policy makers of the Ministry of Health and Wellness on the 25th November 2020. Further analysis is ongoing and a draft report will be ready by the end of January 2021.

Study on the Health and Socio-economic Impact of Road Traffic Injuries (RTIs) in the Island of Mauritius

This Mauritius Research Council funded study is being conducted in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Quality of Life and the Mauritius Police Force.

The study aims to assess the health and socio-economic impact of RTIs in the Island of Mauritius, and the specific objectives are to:

1. determine the magnitude and characteristics of the RTI problem;
2. examine health effects on RTI victims as well as on their families;
3. explore socio-economic consequences on RTI victims and their families;
4. identify factors that may be associated with traffic injuries (e.g. socio-economic status, educational level, category of road users, etc.).

Victims of fatal and severe road traffic injuries that occurred in the year 2017 and who attended public hospitals represent the sample framework. Victims or their close relatives are being interviewed to gather relevant information.

Evaluation of Tobacco Control Policies. The international Tobacco Control Policy Evaluation Project, Mauritius.

In 2009 the Mauritius Institute of Health (MIH) in collaboration with the International Tobacco Control Policy Evaluation Project (the ITC project) based at University of Waterloo, Canada, started conducting a longitudinal cohort survey to evaluate the impact of tobacco control policies implemented under the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). Three waves of the ITC Mauritius Survey have so far been conducted. The next wave is expected to be carried out after the planned introduction of plain packaging and a new set of pictorial health warnings on cigarette packs. The ITC Mauritius Survey has become a valuable and integral part of the tobacco control programme and provides evidence that Mauritius needs to strengthen tobacco policies to reduce morbidity and mortality caused by tobacco use.

Mauritius Birth Defects Registry

The Mauritius Birth Defects Registry (MBDR) is an ongoing surveillance system that was created at the Mauritius Institute of Health (MIH) in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Quality of Life (MOH&QL) and the World Health Organization. The general objective of the MBDR is to carry out active registration of all live and still births with defects that occurred from mothers residing in Mauritius. The primary purpose of the MBDR is to provide a means for accurate and up-to-date tracking of congenital abnormalities in order to determine how affected children have access to needed health-care and other services necessary to treat their conditions. The data can also be utilized for birth defects prevention and control programmes. The MBDR is an ongoing project and five reports have been produced based on data collected for the year 2013 to 2017. The year 2018 report was disseminated on 6th January 2021.