Facilitating factors and barriers to malaria research utilization for policy development in Malawi

doi:10.1186/s12936-016-1547-4

. 2016 Oct 19;15(1):512.

doi: 10.1186/s12936-016-1547-4.

Facilitating factors and barriers to malaria research utilization for policy development in Malawi

Chikondi A Mwendera¹, Christiaan de Jager², Herbert Longwe³, Kamija Phiri⁴, Charles Hongoro^{1

5}, Clifford M Mutero^{1

6}

Affiliations

¹ Institute for Sustainable Malaria Control (UP ISMC), School of Health Systems and Public Health, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa.
² Institute for Sustainable Malaria Control (UP ISMC), School of Health Systems and Public Health, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa. tiaan.dejager@up.ac.za.
³ Mailman School of Public Health, ICAP at Columbia University, Pretoria, South Africa.
⁴ School of Public Health and Family Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Malawi, Blantyre, Malawi.
⁵ Department of Population Health, Health Systems and Innovation, Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC), Blantyre, Malawi.
⁶ International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE), P.O. Box 30772, Nairobi, Kenya.

PMID: 27760552
PMCID: PMC5070004
DOI: 10.1186/s12936-016-1547-4

Facilitating factors and barriers to malaria research utilization for policy development in Malawi

Chikondi A Mwendera et al. Malar J. 2016.

. 2016 Oct 19;15(1):512.

doi: 10.1186/s12936-016-1547-4.

Authors

Chikondi A Mwendera¹, Christiaan de Jager², Herbert Longwe³, Kamija Phiri⁴, Charles Hongoro^{1

5}, Clifford M Mutero^{1

6}

Affiliations

¹ Institute for Sustainable Malaria Control (UP ISMC), School of Health Systems and Public Health, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa.
² Institute for Sustainable Malaria Control (UP ISMC), School of Health Systems and Public Health, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa. tiaan.dejager@up.ac.za.
³ Mailman School of Public Health, ICAP at Columbia University, Pretoria, South Africa.
⁴ School of Public Health and Family Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Malawi, Blantyre, Malawi.
⁵ Department of Population Health, Health Systems and Innovation, Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC), Blantyre, Malawi.
⁶ International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE), P.O. Box 30772, Nairobi, Kenya.

PMID: 27760552
PMCID: PMC5070004
DOI: 10.1186/s12936-016-1547-4

Abstract

Background: Research on various determinants of health is key in providing evidence for policy development, thereby leading to successful interventions. Utilization of research is an intricate process requiring an understanding of contextual factors. The study was conducted to assess enhancing factors and barriers of research utilization for malaria policy development in Malawi.

Methods: Qualitative research approach was used through in-depth interviews with 39 key informants that included malaria researchers, policy makers, programme managers, and key stakeholders. Purposive sampling and snowballing techniques were used in identifying key informants. Interview transcripts were entered in QSR Nvivo 11 software for coding and analysis.

Results: Respondents identified global efforts as key in advancing knowledge translation, while local political will has been conducive for research utilization. Other factors were availability of research, availability of diverse local researchers and stakeholders supporting knowledge translation. While barriers included: lack of platforms for researcher-public engagement, politics, researchers' lack of communication skills, lack of research collaborations, funder driven research, unknown World Health Organization policy position, and the lack of a malaria research repository.

Conclusion: Overall, the study identified facilitating factors to malaria research utilization for policy development in Malawi. These factors need to be systematically coordinated to address the identified barriers and improve on malaria research utilization in policy development. Malaria research can be key in the implementation of evidence-based interventions to reduce the malaria burden and assist in the paradigm shift from malaria control to elimination in Malawi.

Keywords: Barriers; Facilitating factors; Malaria research; Malawi; Policy development; Research utilization.

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References

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[1] Santesso N, Tugwell P. Knowledge translation in developing countries. J Contin Educ Health Prof. 2006;26:87–96. doi: 10.1002/chp.55. - DOI - PubMed

[2] Santesso N, Tugwell P. Knowledge translation in developing countries. J Contin Educ Health Prof. 2006;26:87–96. doi: 10.1002/chp.55. - DOI - PubMed

[3] Kothari A, Birch S, Charles C. “Interaction” and research utilisation in health policies and programs: does it work? Health Policy. 2005;31(71):117–125. doi: 10.1016/j.healthpol.2004.03.010. - DOI - PubMed

[4] Kothari A, Birch S, Charles C. “Interaction” and research utilisation in health policies and programs: does it work? Health Policy. 2005;31(71):117–125. doi: 10.1016/j.healthpol.2004.03.010. - DOI - PubMed

[5] Lomas J. Words without action? The production, dissemination, and impact of consensus recommendations. Annu Rev Public Health. 1991;12:41–65. doi: 10.1146/annurev.pu.12.050191.000353. - DOI - PubMed

[6] Lomas J. Words without action? The production, dissemination, and impact of consensus recommendations. Annu Rev Public Health. 1991;12:41–65. doi: 10.1146/annurev.pu.12.050191.000353. - DOI - PubMed

[7] World Health Organization Government of Mexico (2004) Report from the ministerial summit on health research. Mexico City. 2004;16:20.

[8] World Health Organization Government of Mexico (2004) Report from the ministerial summit on health research. Mexico City. 2004;16:20.

[9] Uneke CJ, Ezeoha AE, Uro-Chukwu H, Ezeonu CT, Ogbu O, Onwe F, et al. Enhancing the capacity of policy-makers to develop evidence-informed policy brief on infectious diseases of poverty in Nigeria. Int J Health Policy Manag. 2015;4:599–610. doi: 10.15171/ijhpm.2015.100. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

[10] Uneke CJ, Ezeoha AE, Uro-Chukwu H, Ezeonu CT, Ogbu O, Onwe F, et al. Enhancing the capacity of policy-makers to develop evidence-informed policy brief on infectious diseases of poverty in Nigeria. Int J Health Policy Manag. 2015;4:599–610. doi: 10.15171/ijhpm.2015.100. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

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Facilitating factors and barriers to malaria research utilization for policy development in Malawi

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Facilitating factors and barriers to malaria research utilization for policy development in Malawi

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