Enhancing health policymakers’ information literacy capacity for policymaking on control of infectious diseases of poverty in Nigeria

Authors

  • Chigozie Jesse Uneke Department of Medical Microbiology/Parasitology, Faculty of Clinical Medicine, Ebonyi State University Abakaliki Nigeria
  • Abel Abeh Ezeoha Health Policy & systems Research Project (Knowledge Translation Platform), Ebonyi State University Abakaliki Nigeria Department of Banking & Finance, Ebonyi State University Abakaliki, Nigeria
  • Henry Uro-Chukwu Health Policy & systems Research Project (Knowledge Translation Platform), Ebonyi State University Abakaliki, Nigeria National Obstetrics Fistula Centre, Abakaliki, Nigeria
  • Chinonyelum Thecla Ezeonu Health Policy & systems Research Project (Knowledge Translation Platform), Ebonyi State University Abakaliki, Nigeria Department of Paediatrics, Ebonyi State University Abakaliki, Nigeria
  • Ogbonnaya Ogbu Health Policy & systems Research Project (Knowledge Translation Platform), Ebonyi State University Abakaliki Nigeria Department of Sociology/Anthropology, Ebonyi State University Abakaliki, Nigeria
  • Friday Onwe Health Policy & systems Research Project (Knowledge Translation Platform), Ebonyi State University Abakaliki Nigeria Department of Sociology/Anthropology, Ebonyi State University Abakaliki, Nigeria
  • Chima Edoga Health Policy & systems Research Project (Knowledge Translation Platform), Ebonyi State University Abakaliki Nigeria Catholic Relief Services (Nigeria Program) Abakaliki, Nigeria

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5210/ojphi.v7i2.5874

Abstract

Background: In Nigeria, one of the major challenges associated with evidence-to-policy link in the control of infectious diseases of poverty (IDP), is the deficient information literacy capacity among policymakers.  There is need for policymakers to develop capacity to discover relevant information, accurately evaluate retrieved information and to apply it correctly.

Objectives: To use information literacy tool of International Network for Availability of Scientific Publications (INASP) to enhance policymakers’ capacity for policymaking on control of IDP in Nigeria.

Methods: Modified “before and after” intervention study design was used in which outcomes were measured on target participants both before the intervention is implemented and after. This study was conducted in Ebonyi State, south-eastern Nigeria and participants were career health policy makers. A two-day health-policy information literacy training workshop was organized to enhance participants’ information literacy capacity.  Topics covered included: introduction to information literacy; defining information problem; searching for information online; evaluating information; science information; knowledge sharing interviews; and training skills. 

Results: A total of 52 policymakers attended the workshop. The pre-workshop mean of knowledge and capacity for information literacy ranged from 2.15-2.97, while the post-workshop mean ranged from 3.34-3.64 on 4point scale. The percentage increase in mean of knowledge and capacity at the end of the workshop ranged from 22.6%-55.3%.

Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that through information literacy training workshop policy makers can acquire the capacity to identify, capture and share the right kind of information in the right contexts to influence relevant action or a policy decision.

Key Words: Policymakers, information literacy, capacity, infectious diseases of poverty, workshop

Author Biographies

Chigozie Jesse Uneke, Department of Medical Microbiology/Parasitology, Faculty of Clinical Medicine, Ebonyi State University Abakaliki Nigeria

Department of Medical Microbiology/Parasitology, Faculty of Clinical Medicine, Ebonyi State University Abakaliki Nigeria.

Senior Lecturer & Director Research, Innovation & Commercializatio, Ebonyi State University Abakaliki Nigeria.

Abel Abeh Ezeoha, Health Policy & systems Research Project (Knowledge Translation Platform), Ebonyi State University Abakaliki Nigeria Department of Banking & Finance, Ebonyi State University Abakaliki, Nigeria

PhD

Henry Uro-Chukwu, Health Policy & systems Research Project (Knowledge Translation Platform), Ebonyi State University Abakaliki, Nigeria National Obstetrics Fistula Centre, Abakaliki, Nigeria

MBBS, MSc.PH

Chinonyelum Thecla Ezeonu, Health Policy & systems Research Project (Knowledge Translation Platform), Ebonyi State University Abakaliki, Nigeria Department of Paediatrics, Ebonyi State University Abakaliki, Nigeria

MBBS, FCMPaed

Friday Onwe, Health Policy & systems Research Project (Knowledge Translation Platform), Ebonyi State University Abakaliki Nigeria Department of Sociology/Anthropology, Ebonyi State University Abakaliki, Nigeria

PhD

Chima Edoga, Health Policy & systems Research Project (Knowledge Translation Platform), Ebonyi State University Abakaliki Nigeria Catholic Relief Services (Nigeria Program) Abakaliki, Nigeria

MBBS

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Published

2015-06-13

How to Cite

Uneke, C. J., Ezeoha, A. A., Uro-Chukwu, H., Ezeonu, C. T., Ogbu, O., Onwe, F., & Edoga, C. (2015). Enhancing health policymakers’ information literacy capacity for policymaking on control of infectious diseases of poverty in Nigeria. Online Journal of Public Health Informatics, 7(2). https://doi.org/10.5210/ojphi.v7i2.5874

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Original Articles