Advancing child health through applied qualitative research

Despite a decrease in child mortality since the establishment of the Millennium Development Goals, children and young people (CYP) continue to face threats to their health and well-being, including acute and chronic diseases, mental illness, and trauma-related injury. Qualitative research is underutilized in certain contexts, yet it is an essential methodology to advance child health outcomes. This paper presents recommendations generated by multidisciplinary experts at the Symposium on Applied Qualitative Research, outlining a value proposition for qualitative inquiry to illuminate the complex social, economic, and environmental factors affecting CYP. We advocate for greater integration of qualitative approaches in paediatrics to center the perspectives, experiences, needs, and preferences of CYP across the research continuum. We also discuss challenges in applied qualitative research in paediatrics and propose expert recommendations to guide best practices to ensure the quality and credibility of qualitative approaches, with the goal of advancing inclusive, responsive, and effective child health interventions, programs, and policies worldwide.