Table 5 Summary of participants’ response on the barriers and facilitators of use of research evidence in policymaking related to maternal, newborn and child health (MNCH)
Key barriers to use of research evidence | Key facilitators of use of research evidence |
|---|---|
- No systematic way/mechanism of use of research in MNCH intervention - Inadequate capacity of the organisation to conduct research that may lead to use - Limited or inadequate funding/budgetary allocation for research - Some output of research may not be of much use in programmes as they may not answer the specific questions we have - No written policy that mandates staff to base memo, proposal, etc. on evidence - Inadequate facilities for implementation - Inadequate capacity of the policymakers - Corruption and political interference - Poor political will - Weak linkages with researcher and policymaker - Lack of capacity building of policymaker on importance of research - Poor dissemination of documented research results and evidence - Non-involvement of policymakers from the beginning of research - Non-communication of research outcomes to policymaker - No interaction forum between the researchers and policymakers - Research is subject to donor rules - Research priorities are donor-driven | - Capacity building of policymakers on use of research in policy formulation - Making a policy that will make a provision of budget for research - Making a policy that will make the use of evidence in policymaking mandatory - Affiliation with an academic institution in area of generation of evidence, its interpretation and utilisation - More training/stakeholder meetings involving policymakers - Incorporate policymakers when planning and developing research - Appropriate dissemination of the research findings to relevant stakeholders - Policy should be instituted to ensure every implementation of government projects must be evidence based - Strengthening of the departments of Health Planning, Research and Strategies to play effective role in promoting research work and use - Institution of an annual forum for presentation and consideration of research work/results for possible adoption and incorporation into policymaking process - Creating a forum between the academics and policymakers - Allowing the policymakers needs to drive research projects |