Determinants of Evidence Use by Frontline Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Staff in Selected Health Facilities in Ghana

Abstract Background The current paper examines the level of use of evidence and factors affecting the use of evidence by frontline maternal, newborn and child health (MNCH) and reproductive and child health (RCH) staff in practice decisions in selected health facilities in Ghana. Methods Data was collected from 509 respondents drawn from 44 health facilities in three regions in Ghana. Means were used to examine the level of use of evidence, whiles cross-tabulations and Partial least Squares-based regression were used to examine factors that influence the use of evidence in practice decisions by frontline MNCH/RCH staff. Conclusion We argue that any effort to improve the use of evidence by frontline MNCH/RC staff in practice decisions should focus on improving attitudes and knowledge of staff as well as challenges related to the structure of the organisation. Given however that the score for attitude was relatively high, emphases should be on knowledge and organizational structure in particular, which had the lowest score even though it has the single most important effect on the use of evidence.