26 research outputs found
Promoting research to improve maternal, neonatal, infant and adolescent health in West Africa : the role of the West African Health Organisation
In this commentary, officials and other members of the West African Health Organisation (WAHO) examine the regional organisation’s role in promoting research as a tool for strengthening maternal and infant health in West Africa. While WAHO’s anchor point at the country level is the Ministry of Health, by integrating research into its work the organisation now works alongside other stakeholders including networks of research centres and universities
Promoting knowledge transfer and culture of evidence use for health systems strengthening in West Africa
This one-page poster/policy brief describes preliminary results of promoting the culture of health research evidence in strengthening health systems in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) sub-region. This West African Health Organization (WAHO) policy report shows some indicators of the use of health research in policy making.
Promoting evidence informed policy making in Nigeria : a review of the maternal, newborn and child health policy development process
The study reviewed policy documents on maternal, newborn and child health (MNCH) in Nigeria to assess the application of evidence-informed mechanisms in the policy formulation process. From a literature review, policy documents indicate that a consultative process of collection of inputs involving multiple stakeholders was employed, but there was no rigorous scientific process of assessing, adaptation and application of scientific evidence acknowledged in the policy development process. The policy documents neither reported the process of production of evidence used in their development nor indicated the mechanisms in place for knowledge transfer and use of health research findings
Assessment of policy makers’ individual and organizational capacity to acquire, assess, adapt and apply research evidence for maternal and child health policy making in Nigeria: a cross-sectional quantitative survey
Background: Throughout the world, there is increasing awareness and acknowledgement of the value of research evidence in the development of effective health policy and in quality health care practice and administration. Among the major challenges associated with the lack of uptake of research evidence into policy and practice in Nigeria is the capacity constraints of policymakers to use research evidence in policy making.Objective: To assess the capacity of maternal and child health policy makers to acquire, access, adapt and apply available research evidence.Methods: This cross-sectional quantitative survey was conducted at a national maternal, newborn and child health (MNCH) stakeholders’ engagement event. An evidence to policy self-assessment questionnaire was used to assess the capacity of forty MNCH policy makers to acquire, assess, adapt and apply research evidence for policy making.Results: Low mean ratings were observed ranging from 2.68-3.53 on a scale of 5 for knowledge about initiating/conducting research and capacity to assess authenticity, validity, reliability, relevance and applicability of research evidence and for organizational capacity for promoting and using of research for policy making.Conclusion: There is need to institute policy makers’ capacity development programmes to improve evidence-informed policymaking.Keywords: Policy maker; research; evidence; capacity; Nigeri
Assessment of national maternal and child health policy-makers’ knowledge and capacity for evidence-informed policy-making in Nigeria
The study aimed to engage Nigerian maternal, newborn, and child health (MNCH) policy-makers and stakeholders and to assess their existing knowledge and capacity on the use of research evidence for policy-making and practice. A total of 40 participants completed the questionnaire. The outcomes suggest that a future stakeholders’ engagement event could serve as an important platform to assess policy-makers’ capacity for evidence-informed policy-making. Constraints to capacity include lack of access to, and inability to synthesize, adapt and utilize available research evidence
An assessment of maternal, newborn and child health implementation studies in Nigeria : implications for evidence informed policymaking and practice
This review provides insight into the process of evidence-informed policymaking and knowledge transfer based on implementation research, focusing on Mother, Newborn and Child Health (MNCH) in Nigeria. Although a reduction in maternal and child mortality in Nigeria could be attributed to implementation of various intervention policies, the study made clear that new and effective policies were informed by research evidence derived from implementation research. Implementation science is the use of strategies to adopt, adapt, and integrate evidence-based health interventions and policies. It is thus able to change patterns of practice within specific settings
An Assessment of National Maternal and Child Health Policy-Makers’ Knowledge and Capacity for EvidenceInformed Policy-Making in Nigeria
Background: There is increasing interest globally in the use of more rigorous processes to ensure that maternal,
newborn, and child health (MNCH) care recommendations are informed by the best available research evidence use.
The purpose of this study was to engage Nigerian MNCH policy-makers and other stakeholders to consider issues
around research to policy and practice interface and to assess their existing knowledge and capacity on the use of
research evidence for policy-making and practice.
Methods: The study design is a cross-sectional evaluation of MNCH stakeholders’ knowledge as it pertains different
dimensions of research to practice. This was undertaken during a national MNCH stakeholders’ engagement
event convened under the auspices of the West African Health Organization (WAHO) and the Federal Ministry of
Health (FMoH) in Abuja, Nigeria. A questionnaire was administered to participants, which was designed to assess
participants’ knowledge, capacity and organizational process of generation, synthesis and utilization of research
evidence in policy-making regarding MNCH.
Results: A total of 40 participants signed the informed consent form and completed the questionnaire. The mean
ratings (MNRs) of participants’ knowledge of electronic databases and capacity to identify and obtain relevant
research evidence from electronic databases ranged from 3.62-3.68 on the scale of 5. The MNRs of participants’ level
of understanding of a policy brief, a policy dialogue and the role of researchers in policy-making ranged from 3.50-
3.86. The MNRs of participants’ level of understanding of evidence in policy-making context, types and sources of
evidence, capacity to identify, select, adapt, and transform relevant evidence into policy ranged from 3.63-4.08. The
MNRs of the participants’ organization’s capacity to cover their geographical areas of operation were generally low
ranging from 3.32-3.38 in terms of manpower, logistics, facilities, and external support. The lowest MNR of 2.66 was
recorded in funding.
Conclusion: The outcomes of this study suggest that a stakeholders’ engagement event can serve as an important
platform to assess policy-makers’ knowledge and capacity for evidence-informed policy-making and for the
promotion of evidence use in the policy proces
Assessment of policymakers’ engagement initiatives to promote evidence informed health policy making in Nigeria
In most developing countries including Nigeria, one of the most challenging issues associated with evidence-to-policy link is the capacity constraints of policymakers to access, synthesize, adapt and utilize available research evidence. The purpose of this review is to assess the efforts and various initiatives that have been undertaken to deliberately engage policymakers and other stakeholders in the health sector in Nigeria for the promotion of evidence informed policymaking. A MEDLINE Entrez Pubmed search was performed and studies that investigated policy making process, evidence to policy link, research to policy mechanism, and researchers/policymakers interaction in Nigeria in relation to health policy were sought. Of the 132 publications found, 14 (10.6%) fulfilled the study inclusion criteria and were selected and included in the review. Of the fourteen scientific publications identified, 11 of the studies targeted both researchers and policymakers and the principal tool of intervention was training workshops which focused on various aspects of evidence informed policymaking. All the studies indicated positive outcomes and impacts in relation to quantifiable improvement in policymakers' knowledge and competence in evidence to policy process. Capacity strengthening engagement mechanism is needed for both researchers to generate better evidence and for policymakers and health-care professionals to better use available evidence.Keywords: Policymakers, evidence informed, health policy, Nigeri
Assessment of policy makers\u2019 individual and organizational capacity to acquire, assess, adapt and apply research evidence for maternal and child health policy making in Nigeria: a cross-sectional quantitative survey.
Background: Throughout the world, there is increasing awareness and
acknowledgement of the value of research evidence in the development of
effective health policy and in quality health care practice and
administration. Among the major challenges associated with the lack of
uptake of research evidence into policy and practice in Nigeria is the
capacity constraints of policymakers to use research evidence in policy
making. Objective: To assess the capacity of maternal and child health
policy makers to acquire, access, adapt and apply available research
evidence. Methods: This cross-sectional quantitative survey was
conducted at a national maternal, newborn and child health (MNCH)
stakeholders\u2019 engagement event. An evidence to policy
self-assessment questionnaire was used to assess the capacity of forty
MNCH policy makers to acquire, assess, adapt and apply research
evidence for policy making. Results: Low mean ratings were observed
ranging from 2.68-3.53 on a scale of 5 for knowledge about
initiating/conducting research and capacity to assess authenticity,
validity, reliability, relevance and applicability of research evidence
and for organizational capacity for promoting and using of research for
policy making. Conclusion: There is need to institute policy
makers\u2019 capacity development programmes to improve
evidence-informed policymaking