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Implementation Research

Bridging the gap between what we know works and what we actually do — studying how to effectively translate evidence into practice and policy in real‑world settings.

We don't just generate knowledge. We make it work for communities, health workers, and decision‑makers across Kenya.

DEFINING IMPLEMENTATION RESEARCH

From evidence to everyday practice

Implementation research is the scientific study of methods to promote the systematic uptake of research findings and other evidence‑based practices into routine use. It seeks to understand what works, for whom, and under what conditions — and why interventions succeed or fail in real‑world contexts.

At Utafiti Wellness, we use implementation research to design, test, and scale up interventions that are practical, sustainable, and relevant to the Kenyan health system and the communities we serve.

Our goal: turn evidence into action that improves lives.
  • Identify barriers and enablers — understand what helps or hinders adoption of evidence‑based practices.
  • Test strategies for effective scale‑up — learn how to expand successful interventions across settings.
  • Adapt evidence to local contexts — tailor interventions to fit cultural, structural, and resource realities.
  • Monitor and evaluate implementation — track fidelity, adaptation, and outcomes in real time.
Community health worker conducting a WASH lesson in Bungoma County, Kenya

UWRA Research team delivering a WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) lesson to households in Bungoma County, Kenya. Implementation research helps us understand what teaching methods and messages are most effective in improving hygiene practices.

Evidence Adaptation Scale‑up
OUR FRAMEWORK

How implementation research works

We follow a structured, evidence‑based approach that involves stakeholders at every stage — from identifying problems to scaling solutions.

🔍Identify
🧩Diagnose
🧪Design & Test
🔄Adapt & Refine
📈Scale & Sustain
❤️Community Impact

1. Identify

Pinpoint the evidence‑practice gap and define the problem with stakeholders.

2. Diagnose

Analyse barriers and enablers using implementation science frameworks.

3. Design & Test

Co‑create interventions and test them in real‑world settings.

4. Adapt & Refine

Iteratively improve based on feedback and emerging evidence.

5. Scale & Sustain

Expand successful interventions while building local capacity for sustainability.

OUR METHODS

How we conduct implementation research

We use rigorous, participatory methods that involve stakeholders from the outset — ensuring our findings are actionable, relevant, and grounded in local reality.

Stakeholder Engagement & Co‑design

We involve policymakers, health workers, community members, and other stakeholders from the very beginning. Together, we define problems, co‑design interventions, and agree on measures of success. This ensures ownership, relevance, and real‑world applicability.

Mixed‑Methods Evaluation

We combine quantitative data (surveys, routine data, clinical outcomes) with qualitative insights (interviews, focus groups, observations) to understand not just what happened, but why and how — including the contextual factors that influence success.

Rapid Cycle Testing & Iterative Design

We use adaptive, iterative designs — such as plan‑do‑study‑act (PDSA) cycles and formative evaluations — to test and refine interventions in real time. We learn, adjust, and improve continuously.

Contextual Adaptation

We tailor evidence‑based interventions to fit local cultural, structural, and resource realities. We balance fidelity to the core components of an intervention with the flexibility needed to make it work in different settings.

Fidelity & Adaptation Monitoring

We track how closely interventions are delivered as intended, while systematically documenting adaptations. This helps us understand what works, for whom, and under what conditions — and how to scale effectively.

Capacity Building for Implementation

We train local teams — including health workers, researchers, and community leaders — in implementation science methods. This builds lasting capacity to lead, adapt, and sustain improvements long after our engagement ends.

REAL‑WORLD EXAMPLES

Implementation research in action across Kenya

Here are some of the ways we've applied implementation research to solve real‑world health challenges. Each project is designed to generate actionable knowledge that can be scaled and sustained.

🏥 Strengthening primary care for NCDs

We are studying how to integrate screening and management of hypertension and diabetes into routine primary care in two Kenyan counties. Through iterative cycles, we are identifying training gaps, supply chain issues, and patient engagement strategies to improve detection, treatment, and follow‑up.

Hypertension Diabetes Primary Care

📱 Digital tools for maternal health

We are testing a mobile‑based referral and tracking system for high‑risk pregnancies. Implementation research is helping us understand which features work best, why, and how to improve usability for midwives working in busy clinics with limited resources.

mHealth Maternal Health Referral Systems

💊 Community‑led antimicrobial stewardship

We are working with community health promoters to implement a simple point‑of‑care algorithm for appropriate antibiotic use in children under ten. We are evaluating the implementation process, barriers, and facilitators to scale‑up across multiple villages in two counties.

AMR Community Health Child Health

Core Concepts

Understanding the building blocks of implementation science helps us design better interventions.

KEY CONCEPTS

Understanding implementation science

These core concepts guide our work and help us systematically translate evidence into practice.

Fidelity refers to how closely an intervention is delivered as intended. Adaptation refers to modifications made to fit local context. We balance both — preserving core components while allowing flexibility to ensure effectiveness in different settings.

Barriers are factors that hinder implementation (e.g., lack of training, limited resources, cultural beliefs). Enablers are factors that facilitate implementation (e.g., strong leadership, community engagement, supportive policies). We identify and address both to improve success.

These are specific methods or techniques used to enhance the adoption, implementation, and sustainability of evidence‑based practices. Examples include training, supervision, decision support tools, and community engagement.

These measure the success of implementation efforts, including acceptability, adoption, appropriateness, feasibility, fidelity, cost, and sustainability. We track these to understand what works and why.

Sustainability is the ability to maintain an intervention over time. Scale‑up is the process of expanding an intervention to reach more people or settings. We build local capacity and engage stakeholders from the start to ensure long‑term success.

Why implementation research is critical

Without implementation research, even the most powerful evidence remains unused. We help ensure that research investments translate into real, measurable changes in health and wellbeing for communities across Kenya.

Partner with us Support our work
PARTNER WITH US

Collaborate on implementation research

We welcome partnerships with governments, universities, NGOs, donors, and community organizations. Together, we can design and implement research that translates into real‑world impact.

  • Co‑design studies — work with us to define research questions and methods that matter to you.
  • Access expertise — tap into our team of implementation scientists and research translation specialists.
  • Build local capacity — train your team in implementation science methods and approaches.
  • Scale successful interventions — take evidence‑based solutions to more communities.
Become a partner Get in touch

Let's work together

From design to dissemination — we collaborate with partners to turn evidence into action.

Governments  ·  Universities  ·  NGOs  ·  Communities