The most important benefit of problem structuring is that it identifies what can and cannot be solved through an intervention. Problem structuring does this by:
- Breaking down a complex situation into more tangible, interconnected components.
- Reducing biases about the situation and potential solutions by including perspectives from multiple stakeholders.
- Selecting one or more options that are more likely to resolve the situation.
Problem structuring can be beneficial in a variety of fields and occupations. Here are some roles where problem structuring could help address the core responsibilities of each profession:
As we describe problem structuring throughout this module, we will use the example of Visceral Leishmaniasis, also known as Black Fever or kala-azar. The short video below introduces the disease if you are not familiar with it:
(What is Leishmaniasis? An introduction and overview, 2015)
Learn more about Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL)
Using problem structuring to combat the epidemic of Visceral Leishmaniasis may seem like a straightforward process if practitioners observe the disease’s symptoms in a community and then propose interventions based on their understanding of all the factors contributing to the spread of the disease. The scale and geographic reach of the disease complicate that approach, however. In recent years, 50,000 to 90,000 new cases of VL have appeared. These are large numbers, though they have decreased considerably since 2006 when the illness killed as many as 200,000 people a year.
Ninety percent of the cases of VL that occurred in 2006 existed in just five countries: India, Bangladesh, Brazil, Nepal, and Sudan. About half of those cases occurred in Bihar, a state in India located just south of Nepal. Within Bihar, the impact of VL was greatest in poor villages such as Harpur Hardi where women worked in fields to harvest rice and wheat in intense heat for as little as one dollar a day (Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, 2006).
The causes of a VL epidemic might vary across geographic areas. The process of problem structuring could identify how these specific social and economic conditions in Harpur Hardi might have influenced the spread of VL there:
- Increased exposure to the disease due to the nature of where and how individuals work.
- Limited access to education about disease prevention.
- Limited access to medical care for individuals especially due to factors like poverty and inequality.
- A need for further research on the disease.
As of 2023, the efforts of global health practitioners have managed to lower cases of VL to near eradication in India. However, there is much work to do to fully eliminate the disease, particularly in other hotspots such as Brazil and countries throughout East Africa. Problem structuring is still needed to identify and address the problems that contribute to VL’s continued spread.
Personal Project Application 1.1
Now that you have an overview of some of the various ways problem structuring can be used, it’s time to consider how it can be applied to your project. Each of the sections in this module will include exercises to complete on your journey of problem structuring. We encourage you to keep a written record of your responses to help you throughout this process.
For this introductory section, reflect on the following questions:
- What is the problem situation you are attempting to solve? What benefit might you see if you accomplish your goal?
- What assumptions do you have about this problem situation?
- What are potential obstacles that might stand in your way?
- What expertise might you rely on to challenge your assumptions or provide you with a more holistic view of the problem situation?
