Table 3 Summary of results from KI - responses (number of respondents)

Strengthening institutional capacity for KT

-A strong policy analysis unit within MoH (1)

- Capacity in knowledge management (central depository, research processes, interpretation, evidence based culture, ownership of results, synthesis and application) (11)

-Research advisory network bringing together researchers, civil society, knowledge brokers, policy makers (1)

-Availability of an institutionalized mechanism/platform of getting researchers involved in policy making and policy makers involved in research (12)

-We need to have an implementation and evaluation framework for KT in place (1)

-Reduce the extent of bureaucracy in the policy making process (1)

Pre-research

- Availability of a research agenda to ensure that research addresses gaps (12)

Research characteristics

-Timely provision of high quality and contextualized evidence with recommendations that are economically feasible and offering policy options (15)

-Credibility of researchers (6)

-Use of local researchers (2)

-Who commissions the research (1)

-Separation of roles between researchers and policy makers (1)

Dissemination

-Designated team in government to handle dissemination - knowledge brokers (1)

-Simplified, well packaged and summarized messages disseminated using multiple channels tailored to targeted audiences (12)

-Each research should have a communication strategy developed and funded (2)

-Use of radio and also politicians can play a role in dissemination especially at community level(6)

-Key role played by civil society but blocked by middle man, the government (5)

-Use of electronic media (2)

-Need a champion who gets to who the real policy makers (1)

Context

Political

-Favorable political environment open to change (7)

- Availability of a political window especially around elections (5)

-Politicians involvement in research including targeted dissemination to them (9)

Economic

-Government commitment to implement recommendations from research (7)

-Economically affordable recommendations (8)

External influence

Global evidence

- Interaction with WHO which gives authoritative advice (6)

-Global evidence is guiding countries, if local evidence is in line, it helps (7)

Donor influence

-Donors are helpful in providing funding to improve uptake of research (12)

Partnerships

-Involvement of all relevant stakeholders throughout the process to improve trust and build interest (15)

-Communities are very important (6)

HSS

-Capacity of the HSS to implement recommendations including provision of incentives to implementers(9)