African Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology | 22 May 2019
An Intervention Study on Translating Medical Research into National Health Policy: A Comorian Case Study
A, h, m, e, d, A, b, d, a, l, l, a, h
Abstract
A persistent gap exists between medical research evidence and its integration into national health policy in many African nations. The Comoros, a small island developing state, exemplifies this challenge, with local research historically underused in shaping maternal and reproductive health strategies. This study aimed to design, implement, and evaluate a structured intervention to improve the translation of obstetric and gynaecological research into national health policy in the Comoros. Its primary objective was to assess the intervention’s impact on policy-makers’ engagement with research evidence. An intervention study was conducted using a mixed-methods approach. The intervention included a sustained programme of targeted policy briefs, collaborative workshops between researchers and ministry officials, and the establishment of a joint technical working group. Data were collected via documentary analysis of policy drafts, structured surveys, and semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders. The intervention facilitated a marked increase in the citation of local research in national policy documents. Following the intervention, a substantial majority of surveyed policy-makers reported regularly consulting research evidence, a significant rise from baseline. A key theme identified was the critical importance of sustained, personal interaction between researchers and policy actors. A deliberate, multi-faceted intervention can effectively bridge the research-policy gap in a resource-constrained African setting. Success depends on moving beyond passive dissemination to active, ongoing collaboration. National health ministries should institutionalise formal mechanisms for researcher-policy-maker dialogue. Funding bodies should mandate and support knowledge translation activities as an integral component of research projects in the region. Knowledge translation, health policy, research utilisation, obstetrics, gynaecology, Comoros, intervention study This study provides a replicable model for enhancing evidence-informed policy-making in African obstetric and gynaecological care, demonstrating practical steps for sustained engagement.