A Delphi Study to Identify and Prioritize Nutrition Research for Ghana
Loading...
Date
2020-12
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Ghana
Abstract
Background: Nutrition is both a maker and marker of development. Addressing the emerging challenges malnutrition pose especially in Africa and in Ghana requires multisectoral policies based on trustworthy research. Ghana has implemented a range of nutritional interventions. Howbeit, the impact of these interventions has been minimal. A major reason is that policies are often developed and implemented based on single sector mandates without strong evidence based research to support it, and the lack of nutrition research priorities linked with the policymaking process disengages research from the policy. This study, therefore, aims to identify and prioritize policy and program relevant research questions as part of a national nutrition research agenda.
Method: a two-round Delphi was used to seek the opinion of expert panelists on what nutrition research question they consider relevant for the country. A total of 66 and 56 panel members selected through purposive sampling participated in the first and second rounds respectively. Data was collected online as a google form link or digital copy in MS word document format via email. A total of 38 questions (for round one) and 66 questions (for round two) were presented to the panel members to indicate which question was relevant for nutrition research in Ghana.
Results: Of the 38 questions presented to expert panelists in the first round, 35 (95%) were
frequently (>75% responses) selected by panel members as relevant nutrition research questions. In the second round, consensus was achieved for 61 (88.4%) of the 69 (including the 35 that achieved consensus in round 1) questions presented to panel members. 23 questions of the total 61 questions presented were ranked by expert panel members as top research questions expert panelist further prioritized these questions into 10 using a prioritization criteria.
Conclusion: the expert panel members identified ten research questions as the top priority
nutrition research for Ghana. The main barriers identified for the effective nutrition research
implementation in Ghana were lack of interaction between researchers and policymakers and lack of funding. Availability of nutrition policy and political will were seen as the opportunities that exist for accelerating nutrition research in Ghana.
Recommendation: The top ten identified research questions should be used by Ghana Health Service and other relevant decision making institutions for nutrition in Ghana. Additionally, there is a need for a national framework to ensure that policymakers make input regarding nutrition research agenda-setting to enhance the linkage between policymakers and researchers.
Description
MA. Public Health
Keywords
Nutrition, Africa, Ghana, Ghana Health Service