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

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

A review of the process of knowledge transfer and use of evidence in reproductive and child health in Ghana

Abstract Background The paper carries out a situational analysis to examine the production, dissemination and utilisation of reproductive and child health-related evidence to inform policy formulation in Ghana’s health sector. Methods The study used Wald’s model of knowledge production, transfer and utilisation as a conceptual model to collect relevant data via interviews and administration of questionnaire to a network of persons who either previously or currently hold policy-relevant positions in Ghana’s health sector. Additional data was also gathered through a scoping review of the knowledge transfer and research utilisation literature, existing reproductive and child health policies, protocols and guidelines and information available on the websites of relevant institutions in Ghana’s health sector. Results The findings of the study suggest that the health sector in Ghana has major strengths (strong knowledge production capacity, a positive environment for the promotion of evidence-informed policy) and opportunities (access to major donors who have the resources to fund good quality research and access to both local and international networks for collaborative research). What remains a challenge, however, is the absence of a robust institutional-wide mechanism for collating research needs and communicating these to researchers, communicating research findings in forms that are friendlier to policy-makers and the inability to incorporate funding for research into the budget of the health sector. Conclusion The study concludes, admonishing the Ministry of Health and its agencies to leverage on the existing strengths and opportunities to address the identified challenges