title: Informing evidence-based policies for ageing and health in Ghana.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Ghana's population is ageing. In 2011, the Government of Ghana requested technical support from the World Health Organization (WHO) to help revise national policies on ageing and health.
  
  
  METHODS
  We applied WHO's knowledge translation framework on ageing and health to assist evidence based policy-making in Ghana. First, we defined priority problems and health system responses by performing a country assessment of epidemiologic data, policy review, site visits and interviews of key informants. Second, we gathered evidence on effective health systems interventions in low- middle- and high-income countries. Third, key stakeholders were engaged in a policy dialogue. Fourth, policy briefs were developed and presented to the Ghana Health Services.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ghana has a well-structured health system that can adapt to meet the health care needs of older people.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Six problems were selected as priorities, however after the policy dialogue, only five were agreed as priorities by the stakeholders. The key stakeholders drafted evidence-based policy recommendations that were used to develop policy briefs. The briefs were presented to the Ghana Health Service in 2014.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The framework can be used to build local capacity on evidence-informed policy-making. However, knowledge translation tools need further development to be used in low-income countries and in the field of ageing. The terms and language of the tools need to be adapted to local contexts. Evidence for health system interventions on ageing populations is very limited, particularly for low- and middle-income settings.
authors.affiliation: World Health Organization, avenue Appia 20, 1211 Geneva 27, Switzerland .
authors.forename: Islene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Araujo de Carvalho
authors.affiliation: Research Centre for Gender, Health & Ageing, University of Newcastle, England .
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Byles
authors.affiliation: Ghana Health Service, Accra, Ghana .
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Aquah
authors.affiliation: Accra, Ghana .
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Amofah
authors.affiliation: University of Ghana Medical School, Accra, Ghana .
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Biritwum
authors.affiliation: World Health Organization, avenue Appia 20, 1211 Geneva 27, Switzerland .
authors.forename: Ulysses
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Panisset
authors.affiliation: Age UK, London, England .
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Goodwin
authors.affiliation: World Health Organization, avenue Appia 20, 1211 Geneva 27, Switzerland .
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Beard
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging; D003150:Community Health Workers / Q000458:organization & administration; D003256:Community Participation / Q000379:methods; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003906:Developing Countries; D005869:Ghana; D014943:Global Health; D006291:Health Policy; D006292:Health Priorities / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D011050:Policy Making; D014944:World Health Organization