Application of Implementation Science Frameworks to Scale Evidence-Based Interventions for Maternal and Child Health in Sokoto State

Background: The science-to-practice gap in maternal and child health interventions in rural Northern Nigeria remains large, and implementation science frameworks provide tools for bridging this gap systematically. This study applies implementation science frameworks to identify and address barriers to scaling evidence-based maternal and child health interventions in Sokoto State, North West geopolitical zone. Methodology: A mixed-methods implementation science study employed the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research and Expert Recommendations for Implementing Change taxonomy to guide design. Formative evaluation at 20 primary healthcare centres assessed implementation determinants. Barrier-specific implementation strategies were co-designed with 40 implementation stakeholders, and a 12-month interrupted time series analysis evaluated the effect of strategy deployment on intervention coverage outcomes. Results: Dominant implementation barriers were inner setting factors including poor staff motivation, limited supervision, and inadequate health commodity logistics. The most effective barrier-resolving strategies were leadership engagement, clinical champions, and community health worker integration. Intervention coverage rates improved significantly following strategy deployment. Conclusion: Implementation science frameworks provide actionable guidance for overcoming scale-up barriers for maternal and child health interventions in Sokoto State. Family medicine departments should institutionalise implementation science capacity as a core competency within postgraduate training programmes. Keywords: implementation science, maternal and child health, scale-up, Sokoto State, evidence-based interventions