Structural Transformation against Racism, Inequality, and Discrimination: Exemplars in Global Health (STRIDE) is a collaborative global research initiative that aims to identify settings that have been exemplary in reducing health inequities driven by racism and structural discrimination among marginalized and underrepresented populations. Conceptualized and supported by the O’Neill–Lancet Commission on Racism, Structural Discrimination, and Global Health, in partnership with Exemplars in Global Health, the study is being implemented across multiple countries, including Nepal, Bolivia, Brazil, and Kenya. McGill University (Canada) and the O’Neill Institute at Georgetown University serve as cross-site research partners, supporting methodological rigor and comparative learning across contexts.
In Nepal, the qualitative study is led by DLMGA and focuses on identifying health system practices that have demonstrated exceptional progress in improving maternal health outcomes among Dalit communities in Madhesh Province. The study examines three key maternal health exemplars: Antenatal Care (ANC), Postnatal Care (PNC), and Skilled Birth Attendance (SBA), using a qualitative research design across six districts. Data collection includes 20 Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) and 30 Key Informant Interviews (KIIs), alongside concurrent literature and policy reviews. The expected outcomes of the study include evidence-based documentation of effective caste-sensitive health equity strategies, actionable policy recommendations for national replication, a deeper understanding of intersectionality in health service delivery, and strengthened capacity for inclusive and equitable health governance.
