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BACKGROUND: Health research institutions in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) can play an integral role in promoting and supporting Knowledge Translation (KT). Assessing institutions' engagement in KT and bridging the "research- policy" gap is important in designing context-specific strategies to promote KT and informing funding efforts in the region. AIMS: The objective of this study was to explore the engagement of EMR institutions in KT activities. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey of institutions undertaking health research in the 22 EMR countries was undertaken. The survey covered institutional characteristics, institutional planning for research, national planning for health research, and knowledge management, translation and dissemination. RESULTS: 575 institutions were contacted of which 223 (38.3%) responded. Half the sampled institutions reported conducting priority-setting exercises, with 60.2% not following a standardized approach. Less than half institutions reported frequently/ always (40.5%) involving policymakers and stakeholders in setting priorities for research on health. Only 26.5% of respondent institutions reported that they examine the extent to which health policymakers utilize their research results. Moreover, only 23.3% reported measuring the impact of their health research. CONCLUSIONS: There is still misalignment between national health research priorities and actual research production, and KT activities are still rarely undertaken by institutions in the EMR. National governments and international funding agencies are called to support research production and translation in the EMR. Institutions and researchers are also called to produce policy-relevant research and be responsive to the needs and priorities of policy-makers.

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BACKGROUND: Research-conducive environments are mandatory for planning, implementing and translating research findings into evidence-informed health policies. AIM: This study aimed at comprehensive situation analysis of health research institutions in the Region. METHODS: We collected data on: institutional characteristics, research scope, capacity building, ethics, governance and resources. RESULTS: We contacted 575 institutions, of which, 223 (38.8%) responded, indicating that they conducted population research (82%). Reported studies were mostly in medicine, public health and epidemiology, while reported capacity building mainly focused on scientific writing (20.6%), research proposal writing (18%) and quantitative research methods (17%). Most institutions reported having collaborating partners (82%) - predominantly national (77%). Sixty-four percent of institutions received their own funding, with 48% reporting always having access to national databases. CONCLUSION: Governments in the Eastern Mediterranean Region and international funding agencies are called upon to support health research production through increasing allocated support and capacity building in health research.

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Background: Research-conducive environments are mandatory for planning, implementing and translating research findings into evidence-informed health policies. Aim: This study aimed at comprehensive situation analysis of health research institutions in the Region. Methods: We collected data on: institutional characteristics, research scope, capacity building, ethics, governance and resources. Results: We contacted 575 institutions, of which, 223 [38.8%] responded, indicating that they conducted population research [82%]. Reported studies were mostly in medicine, public health and epidemiology, while reported capacity building mainly focused on scientific writing [20.6%], research proposal writing [18%] and quantitative research methods [17%]. Most institutions reported having collaborating partners [82%] – predominantly national [77%]. Sixty-four percent of institutions received their own funding, with 48% reporting always having access to national databases. Conclusion: Governments in the Eastern Mediterranean Region and international funding agencies are called upon to support health research production through increasing allocated support and capacity building in health research

Contexte : Des environnements favorables à la recherche sont nécessaires pour planifier, mettre en œuvre et traduire les résultats de recherche en politiques de santé reposant sur des bases factuelles. Objectif : La présente étude visait à mener une analyse de situation des établissements de recherche en santé dans la Région. Méthodes : Nous avons recueilli des données sur les caractéristiques institutionnelles, le champ des recherches, le renforcement des capacités, l'éthique, la gouvernance et les ressources. Résultats : Nous avons contacté 575 établissements, sur lesquels 223 [38,8 %] ont répondu qu'ils avaient effectué des recherches en population [82 %]. Les études traitées concernaient principalement la médecine, la santé publique et l'épidémiologie ; le renforcement des capacités signalé portait principalement sur l'écriture scientifique [20,6 %], la rédaction des propositions de recherche [18 %] et les méthodes de recherche quantitative [17 %]. La plupart des établissements signalaient avoir des partenaires de collaboration [82 %], principalement au niveau national [77 %]. Soixante-quatre pour cent des établissements recevaient leur propre financement, et 48 % mentionnaient avoir toujours accès aux bases de données nationales. Conclusion : Les gouvernements des pays de la Région de la Méditerranée orientale et les bailleurs de fonds internationaux sont appelés à soutenir la production de la recherche en santé en augmentant le soutien et le renforcement des capacités alloués en matière de recherche en santé

الخلفية: يمثل توفر بيئة مؤاتية للبحوث أمراً ضرورياً لتخطيط البحوث وتنفيذها وترجمة نتائجها إلى سياسات صحية تستند إلى الدلائل.الهدف: تمثّل الهدف من هذه الدراسة في إجراء تحليل شامل لحالة مؤسسات البحوث الصحية في الإقليم.طرق البحث: جمعنا بيانات عن العناصر التالية: السمات المؤسسية، والنطاق البحثي، وبناء القدرات، والأخلاقيات، والإدارة، والموارد.النتائج: تم الاتصال بما مجموعه 575 مؤسسة، ردت 223 مؤسسة ) 38.8 %( منها، وأفادت بإجرائها بحوثاً سكانية ) 82 %(. وجاءت أغلب،)% الدراسات المبلغ عنها في مجالات الطب والصحة العامة والوبائيات؛ بينما ركّزت أنشطة بناء القدرات المُبلغ عنها على الكتابة العلمية ) 20.6وكتابة الخطط البحثية ) 18 %(، ومناهج البحث الكمية ) 17 %(. وأفادت معظم المؤسسات بوجود شركاء متعاونين معها ) 82 %(، أغلبهم منالشركاء الوطنيين ) 77 %(. وأشارت 64 % من المؤسسات إلى تلقيها تمويلاً ذاتياً، وأفادت 48 % منها بتمكنها من الوصول إلى قواعد البيانات الوطنيةبشكل دائم.الاستنتاج: حكومات إقليم شرق المتوسط ووكالات التمويل الدولية مدعوة لدعم إنتاج البحوث الصحية عن طريق زيادة الدعم المخصص وبناءالقدرات في مجال البحوث الصحية في الإقليم

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BACKGROUND: The WHO in 2008 developed the Urban Health Equity Assessment and Response Tool. It is a user-friendly guide for stakeholders and decision makers at national and local levels to identify health inequities. Moreover, using such tool will facilitate decisions on viable and effective strategies, interventions, and actions that should be used to reduce health inequities. AIM: To assess the health equity in a disadvantaged district (Gezerit El Warak) located in Giza province, Egypt. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A population-based survey was conducted in the study district. A total of 643 heads of households were interviewed using Urban Health Equity Assessment and Response developed by WHO. Indicators of key health outcomes and major social determinants were calculated and then compared with the corresponding national indicators. RESULTS: The results of social determinants of health showed lower performance than national figures in the core indicators illiteracy (42.5%) and male tobacco smoking (56.0%), whereas good performance was reported for unemployment among adults (2.0%), fully immunized infants (95.1%), and females' overweight (34.5%)/obesity (38.0%). The main problem encountered was the inadequate physical infrastructure, mainly safe drinking water and sewage disposal system. The health outcome indicators revealed higher prevalence of hypertension among both males (20.7%) and females (19.2%). History of diabetes mellitus was markedly higher than the national figures among both males (11.5%) or females (9.6%). CONCLUSION: Compared with the national indicators, the main health determinants with low performance encountered in the study area included the physical infrastructure and high prevalence of male tobacco smoking. Health outcome indicators with low performance were diabetes and hypertension. The response of stakeholders was positive and immediate actions were taken to tackle some of the low-performance indicators.

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