Informing evidence-based policies for ageing and health in Ghana
Problem Ghana’s population is ageing. In 2011, the Government of Ghana requested technical support from the World Health Organization (WHO) to help revise national policies on ageing and health. Approach We applied WHO’s knowledge translation framework on ageing and health to assist evidence based p...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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The World Health Organization
2015-01-01
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| Series: | Bulletin of the World Health Organization |
| Online Access: | http://www.scielosp.org/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0042-96862015000100047&lng=en&tlng=en |
| _version_ | 1797287477474492416 |
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| author | Islene Araujo de Carvalho Julie Byles Charles Aquah George Amofah Richard Biritwum Ulysses Panisset James Goodwin John Beard |
| author_facet | Islene Araujo de Carvalho Julie Byles Charles Aquah George Amofah Richard Biritwum Ulysses Panisset James Goodwin John Beard |
| author_sort | Islene Araujo de Carvalho |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Problem Ghana’s population is ageing. In 2011, the Government of Ghana requested technical support from the World Health Organization (WHO) to help revise national policies on ageing and health. Approach We applied WHO’s knowledge translation framework on ageing and health to assist evidence based policy-making in Ghana. First, we defined priority problems and health system responses by performing a country assessment of epidemiologic data, policy review, site visits and interviews of key informants. Second, we gathered evidence on effective health systems interventions in low- middle- and high-income countries. Third, key stakeholders were engaged in a policy dialogue. Fourth, policy briefs were developed and presented to the Ghana Health Services. Local setting Ghana has a well-structured health system that can adapt to meet the health care needs of older people. Relevant changes Six problems were selected as priorities, however after the policy dialogue, only five were agreed as priorities by the stakeholders. The key stakeholders drafted evidence-based policy recommendations that were used to develop policy briefs. The briefs were presented to the Ghana Health Service in 2014. Lessons learnt The framework can be used to build local capacity on evidence-informed policy-making. However, knowledge translation tools need further development to be used in low-income countries and in the field of ageing. The terms and language of the tools need to be adapted to local contexts. Evidence for health system interventions on ageing populations is very limited, particularly for low- and middle-income settings. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T18:33:41Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0a3ded35ede54f10b2a053a2fd92df09 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0042-9686 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T18:33:41Z |
| publishDate | 2015-01-01 |
| publisher | The World Health Organization |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Bulletin of the World Health Organization |
| spelling | doaj.art-0a3ded35ede54f10b2a053a2fd92df092024-03-02T05:06:36ZengThe World Health OrganizationBulletin of the World Health Organization0042-96862015-01-01931475110.2471/BLT.14.136242S0042-96862015000100047Informing evidence-based policies for ageing and health in GhanaIslene Araujo de CarvalhoJulie BylesCharles AquahGeorge AmofahRichard BiritwumUlysses PanissetJames GoodwinJohn BeardProblem Ghana’s population is ageing. In 2011, the Government of Ghana requested technical support from the World Health Organization (WHO) to help revise national policies on ageing and health. Approach We applied WHO’s knowledge translation framework on ageing and health to assist evidence based policy-making in Ghana. First, we defined priority problems and health system responses by performing a country assessment of epidemiologic data, policy review, site visits and interviews of key informants. Second, we gathered evidence on effective health systems interventions in low- middle- and high-income countries. Third, key stakeholders were engaged in a policy dialogue. Fourth, policy briefs were developed and presented to the Ghana Health Services. Local setting Ghana has a well-structured health system that can adapt to meet the health care needs of older people. Relevant changes Six problems were selected as priorities, however after the policy dialogue, only five were agreed as priorities by the stakeholders. The key stakeholders drafted evidence-based policy recommendations that were used to develop policy briefs. The briefs were presented to the Ghana Health Service in 2014. Lessons learnt The framework can be used to build local capacity on evidence-informed policy-making. However, knowledge translation tools need further development to be used in low-income countries and in the field of ageing. The terms and language of the tools need to be adapted to local contexts. Evidence for health system interventions on ageing populations is very limited, particularly for low- and middle-income settings.http://www.scielosp.org/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0042-96862015000100047&lng=en&tlng=en |
| spellingShingle | Islene Araujo de Carvalho Julie Byles Charles Aquah George Amofah Richard Biritwum Ulysses Panisset James Goodwin John Beard Informing evidence-based policies for ageing and health in Ghana Bulletin of the World Health Organization |
| title | Informing evidence-based policies for ageing and health in Ghana |
| title_full | Informing evidence-based policies for ageing and health in Ghana |
| title_fullStr | Informing evidence-based policies for ageing and health in Ghana |
| title_full_unstemmed | Informing evidence-based policies for ageing and health in Ghana |
| title_short | Informing evidence-based policies for ageing and health in Ghana |
| title_sort | informing evidence based policies for ageing and health in ghana |
| url | http://www.scielosp.org/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0042-96862015000100047&lng=en&tlng=en |
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