Analyzing the determinants for using health research evidence in health planning in Tanzania: a cross-sectional study.

IntroductionAchieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) requires utilizing research evidence to inform the decision-making process. However, little information is available on the determinants for using research evidence in planning in Lower Middle-Income Countries (LMICs), including Tanzania. This paper aims to investigate the determinants of using health research evidence in health planning in Tanzania. Materials and methodsThis study employed a cross-sectional study design. Data on health research evidence and its determinants were collected using a structured questionnaire from 422 respondents from 9 regions of Tanzania from October to December 2023. The data were analyzed using STATA version 18 for descriptive and inferential statistics. The association between variables was determined using a chi-square test at a 95% confidence level. ResultsThe study revealed that 66.2% of participants strongly agreed to use health research evidence during planning. However, significant barriers were identified, including lack of dissemination (74.5%), inadequate human and non-human resources (70.0%), and insufficient knowledge and training in research (63.7%). A chi-square test confirmed significant associations between these barriers and the reduced use of research evidence (p<0.05). Conversely, more than 70% of respondents identified opportunities such as the availability of research coordinators, university partnerships, available research budgets, and internet access, all significantly associated with increased health research evidence use. More than 50% of participants reported motivational factors that like continuous quality improvement agenda in the healthcare sector, availability of short and long-term courses, on-the-job training, and provision of incentives like extra duty allowances were positively linked to research utilization. ConclusionThe study found that 66.2% of participants used health research evidence in planning, but barriers like lack of dissemination, resource shortages, and inadequate training persisted. Interventions should focus on improving dissemination, resources, and training. Future research should explore strategies for enhancing these interventions.