Research, evidence and policymaking: the perspectives of policy actors on improving uptake of evidence in health policy development and implementation in Uganda
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Date
2012
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
BMC Public Health
Abstract
Use of evidence in health policymaking plays an important role, especially in resource-constrained
settings where informed decisions on resource allocation are paramount. Several knowledge translation (KT)
models have been developed, but few have been applied to health policymaking in low income countries. If KT
models are expected to explain evidence uptake and implementation, or lack of it, they must be contextualized
and take into account the specificity of low income countries for example, the strong influence of donors. The
main objective of this research is to elaborate a Middle Range Theory (MRT) of KT in Uganda that can also serve as
a reference for other low- and middle income countries.
Methods: This two-step study employed qualitative approaches to examine the principal barriers and facilitating
factors to KT. Step 1 involved a literature review and identification of common themes. The results informed the
development of the initial MRT, which details the facilitating factors and barriers to KT at the different stages of
research and policy development. In Step 2, these were further refined through key informant interviews with
policymakers and researchers in Uganda. Deductive content and thematic analysis was carried out to assess the
degree of convergence with the elements of the initial MRT and to identify other emerging issues.
Results: Review of the literature revealed that the most common emerging facilitating factors could be grouped
under institutional strengthening for KT, research characteristics, dissemination, partnerships and political
context. The analysis of interviews, however, showed that policymakers and researchers ranked institutional
strengthening for KT, research characteristics and partnerships as the most important. New factors emphasized
by respondents were the use of mainstreamed structures within MoH to coordinate and disseminate research,
the separation of roles between researchers and policymakers, and the role of the community and civil society
in KT.
Description
Keywords
Research, Policy, Practice, Implementation gap, Uganda, Low income countries
Citation
Orem, J. N., Mafigiri, D. K., Marchal, B., Ssengooba, F., Macq, J., & Criel, B. (2012). Research, evidence and policymaking: the perspectives of policy actors on improving uptake of evidence in health policy development and implementation in Uganda. BMC Public Health, 12(1), 1-16.