Table 6.

Barriers and facilitators to evidence- informed policies and strategies to improve evidence to policy

Barriers to evidence- informed policies (n = 446)		Facilitators to evidence- informed policies (n = 145)		Strategies to improve evidence to policy (n = 570)
·Lack of funding and investment in priority health research and in implementing evidence from research in policy	69 (16%)	·Availability of policy relevant health research	22 (15%)	·Build the capacity of policymakers in locating proper information, assessing the quality of research, its cost effectiveness and local applicability	75 (13%)
·Lack of policy relevant research	62 (14%)	·Easy access to information	16 (11%)	·Increase funding and investments in health research	7 (13%)
·Over- riding political forces	49 (11%)	·Availability of research funding	13 (9%)	·Improve dissemination and translation of research	59 (10%)
·Lack of political will, corruption, and weak administrative structure of policy making entities	49 (11%)	·Support of NGOs and international organizations that drive the use of research in policymaking	13 (9%)	·Conduct health systems research to inform policy	44 (8%)
·Lack of trained policy makers in accessing and using evidence for policy making	43 (10%)	·Availability of research centers	11 (8%)	·Establish evidence- to- policy decision support unit that supports policy makers in using research in policy.	41 (7%)
		·Belief of policymakers in the importance of evidence	11 (8%)	·Conduct sensitization and awareness workshops on evidence- informed policymaking	40 (7%)
		·Availability of qualified researchers	10 (7%)	·Improving contact and exchange between policymakers and researchers	31 (5%)
		·Communication and networking between policymakers and researchers	10 (7%)
		·Wide dissemination of research	10 (7%)
		·Qualified policymakers	10 (7%)

n = total number of responses to each question, respondents listed up to three responses.