Background
Background of the Health Policy Research Group (HPRG)
Methods
Data collection
Data analysis
Results
Type of research-policy engagement | Strategies | Project name | Citation | Date of conduct | Geographic location | Main focus |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Policy maker-initiated empirical research studies |
Policymakers and stakeholders seeking evidence from researchers (S1)
| Examining appropriate diagnosis and treatment of malaria: availability and use of RDTs and ACTs in public and private health facilities in south east Nigeria | Benjamin SC Uzochukwu, Lausdels O Chiegboka, Chibuike Enwereuzo et al. Examining appropriate diagnosis and treatment of malaria: availability and use of rapid diagnostic tests and artemisinin-based combination therapy in public and private health facilities in south east Nigeria. BMC Public Health 2010, 10:486 | 2009 | Enugu | Malaria Diagnosis |
Willingness to pay and benefit-cost analysis of modern contraceptives in Nigeria | Onwujekwe O, Ogbonna C, Ibe O, Uzochukwu B (2013). Willingness to pay and benefit-cost analysis of modern contraceptives in Nigeria: an equity analysis. International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. 122(2): 94–98. | 2013 | Enugu | Family Planning | ||
Involving stakeholders in designing objectives of a research and throughout the research period (S2)
| Promoting universal financial protection: constraints and enabling factors in scaling-up coverage with social health insurance in Nigeria. | Chima Onoka, Obinna Onwujekwe, Benjamin SC Uzochukwu, Nkoli Ezumah. Health Research Policy and Systems 06/2013; 11(1):20. DOI: 10.1186/1478-4505-11-20
| 2012 | Enugu and Abuja | National Health Insurance | |
Establishment of Monitoring and Evaluation (M & E) systems for the Anambra Malaria Control Booster Project (MCBP)
| Onwujekwe OE & Uzochukwu BSC. Establishment of Monitoring and Evaluation (M & E) systems for the Anambra Malaria Control Booster Project (MCBP). Project Report | 2009–2011 | Anambra | Monitoring and Evaluation | ||
Projects directly addressing GRIPP itself
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Facilitating policy maker-researcher engagement in best ways of using research findings to influence policy and practice (S3)
|
The PREVIEW (Policy Research EVIdence for Effective Working of the Nigerian health systems) project- Concept and implementation
| Onwujekwe O, Uzochukwu B. 2013. Policy Research Evidence for Effective Working of the Health Systems. Technical Report, Nigerian Academy of Science. www.nas.org
| 2011/2012 | Lagos | Policy maker-Researcher engagement |
Researcher-initiated empirical research studies
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Active dissemination of own research findings to relevant stakeholders and policymakers (S4)
| CBHI Scheme in Anambra state, Nigeria: an analysis of policy development, implementation and equity effects. (S4) | BSC Uzochukwu, OE Onwujekwe, S Eze, E Nkoli, EN Obikeze and CA Onoka. Community Based Health Insurance Scheme in Anambra state, Nigeria: an analysis of policy development, implementation and equity effects. | 2006/2007 | Anambra | Community-based health insurance policy |
An assessment of policy development and implementation process of District Health System in Enugu state, Nigeria. (S4) | BSC Uzochukwu, OE Onwujekwe, S Eze, E Nkoli, EN Obikeze and CA Onoka An assessment of policy development and implementation process of District Health System in Enugu state, Nigeria | 2006/2007 | Enugu | Decentralization System |
I. Policy maker-initiated empirical research studies
Strategy 1: Policymakers and donors seeking evidence from researchers
“We used the result of availability and use of rapid diagnostic tests and artemisinin-based combination therapy in public and private health facilities study when we were supplying RDTs and ACTs to our health centers………….the study guided us very well and we have RDTs and ACTs all over the facilities now” (Policy maker Enugu State)
Strategy 2: Involving stakeholders in designing objectives of a research and throughout the research period
“We are now engaging policy makers at the State level and encouraging them that they do not need to remit their contributions to NHIS in Abuja, but to keep it at the State level to run the State Health Insurance Scheme” (Policy Maker Abuja)“How did NHIS expect us to contribute money and send to them to manage for us. At least now they have seen evidence that we will not do that and they are now asking us to go ahead and establish our own without sending the money to them…. That is the right thing” (policy maker Enugu)
“So when the research was about to start it was generally discussed in the stakeholders meetings and some of the questions and the methodology for the research was discussed and we all discussed it and agreed that this is how it’s going to be…………..immediately that result was disseminated, we had a change in mind about the FSSHIP………Even other States are following suit” (Policymaker Enugu State)
“Myself and some members of the project were involved in the research process and it was effective.” (Policymaker, Anambra State)
“Positively was the active collaboration with the ministry and other partners in the development of the protocol and implementation of the study as well as good rapport with the partners”……..This enabled them to accept the results (Researcher 2 Enugu)“ In most of those researches, officers of the State Ministry of Health of the two States were involved in every stage of research study starting with generating of research questions to presentation of research findings” (Researcher 3 Enugu)
“the robust M&E system the HPRG developed is now being utilized not only by malaria control officers at the local government level but also by the M&E unit of the state ministry of health” (program officer)
“Of course, I mean, the more we involve them , the more credible the results are , the more they can associate, they can relate, some of them say ok, we were part of the research.” (Researcher 2 Enugu)“Yes I was involved in the analyses and generation of study results when I was working with HPRG. I have also done a couple of analyses and generation of study results now in PATHS2. This has affected up-take of study results” (Researcher and stakeholder Enugu)
II. Projects directly addressing GRIPP itself
Strategy 3: Facilitating policy maker-researcher engagement in best ways of using research findings to influence policy and practice
“Well, I think one thing that was critical was the area where we drew up next steps and all the relevant stakeholders were there, including those that do research and policy makers…… to ensure that programmes are evidence-based and guided by research that was identified”(Researcher Lagos State).
“We have formed the Policy maker-Researcher committee domiciled in the State Ministry of Health with representatives from tertiary institutions and research institutes, commissioning research…………..this is a very important milestone” (Researcher Lagos State )“We now have repository of research evidence in the ministry……………researchers now submit there research findings that have to do with Lagos State in the ministry and one can get information about health issues in the State from their”(Policy maker Lagos State)
“It was an eye opener and we have used what we learnt to improve practice in the area of childhood immunization, malaria control and non communicable disease control” (Programme manager, Lagos State)“We are now making decisions based on the findings such as with the maternal mortality reduction programmes and policy reviews based on research evidence” (Policy maker Lagos State)
“Well, I think one thing that was critical was the area where we drew up next steps and all the relevant stakeholders were there, including those that do research and policy makers, we discussed what needed to be done to ensure that research was guiding our programme implementation and how to work out the next steps to ensure that programmes are evidence based and guided by research work that was identified to move the programme forward” -(policymaker Lagos State)“It was a workshop and I was involved. It was like a 2 day retreat, and then we also did one on non communicable diseases. We looked at the stage where Lagos state was at the time concerning having a policy on non communicable diseases. We looked at the policy and tried to bring up some things and we did like a road map on what we should do concerning the non communicable diseases policy and some recommendations were given. One of itwas to revitalize our health research committee and apart from that, all other aspects that we should try and come up with a policy to back our intervention and programme (Policymaker Lagos State)
“What works best is when you interact directly with the policy makers that will use that evidence, conference papers will not work because they may never read them, so it’s when you interact with them, if you organize something specific for them with them in mind and at the end may be give them policy briefs” (Researcher Lagos State)
III. Researcher-initiated empirical research studies
Strategy 4: Active dissemination of research findings to relevant stakeholders and policymakers
“Yes, by being invited to research findings/results dissemination meeting and capacity building sessions on policy analysis, I got interested in the results…….. was even involved to the extent of convincing some key stakeholders during the dissemination of the research findings/results”(policymaker maker Enugu State)“We usually have dissemination meeting, where the researchers come, we ask questions and at the end of the day, we are able to bring out the issues in the research. That has really helped to influence implementation”-(Policymaker Enugu State)
“The results of the assessment of the Community Based Health Insurance Scheme was very helpful while we were expanding to other communities…..even in the celebrated successful community based health insurance in Igbo-Ukwu we used the HPRG results to make it work better”(Policy maker Anambra State)“We have started reviewing the district health law to capture some of your recommendations” (policy maker, Enugu State)
Factors supporting effective policy engagement by the HPRG and getting research into policy and practice
“there is willingness of the users to use the research findings and that is why it’s important to enter into a form of commitment agreement that whatever the findings will be that you will make use of them.” (Policy Maker Enugu)
“Through a long standing cordial relationship with the HPRG, we have found them to be credible and hence feel comfortable using their research findings to impact policy and practice” (Policy Maker Enugu State)“We appreciate your works because you publish in international journals of high impact value” (Policy maker, Enugu State)
I got to know HPRG from their presentations in conferences and their contributions to policy issues in Nigeria especially in the national council on health……………… (policy maker Lagos)
“I think because HPRG belong to several reputable international consortia, they have good opportunities of conducting country researches that are relevant to policy in Nigeria”
“Yes, there was this international agenda of the MDGs, you know the Free MCH services actually is targeting the women and children addressing MDG 3 & 4…… and once that policy was formulated because it has an international component, the government was interested in it and that was why it sailed faster than any other policy we have ever formulated in this state” (Policymaker Enugu State)“If those studies are addressing current global or national conversations, something that is topical, i.e. everyone is talking about it, if for example you generate evidence on universal coverage, or polio eradication, or maternal and child health, you know, topical or a state or the national level is trying to develop a policy or strategic framework, and it fits into it…….” (HPRG Researcher)
Challenges to research utilization in health policy identified by HPRG in the course of their work
“One of the problems of demanding evidence and uptake of results is that the policy makers hardly appreciate the importance of this and they simple lack the skills to do so. They don’t even know whom to turn to if they need information to underpin a policy decision …..hence there is need to train them on this” (Researcher Lagos State)
“There is also a communication problem between the donors and the researchers because the donors want a particular thing to be researched which might not be the crux of the problem” (Researcher Lagos State)
“I think researchers themselves need to be politically minded to know when to produce evidence and how to get it across to the users, given the various interests of policy makers and their disposition”. (HPRG Researcher).“A researcher must have knowledge of the most pressing political and policy questions that they would need to make their research more relevant and be connected to the politicians and policy makers in one way or the other” ( HPRG Researcher ).
“I think the biggest problem is the resistance to change. This is because, we will do some surveys and you try to tell people that this is what we found in this survey and people will say no, no, this is how we have been doing it.” (Researcher 1 Enugu)
“..from the local point of view, governments of states are not always interested in research. In most cases little or no budgets are made for research. Even where there are fiscal releases they are hardly used for research”- (Researcher/stakeholder Enugu State)“Well when you look at the cost, at times the state will say these people who are proposing this are they going to fund it? Once they start like that, putting cost before effect, you know you are not going to get anywhere.”-(Policymaker, Enugu State)