Differential impact of COVID‐19 in pregnant women from high‐income countries and low‐ to middle‐income countries: A systematic review and meta‐analysis

PURPOSE Cancer disproportionately affects people living in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), partly because of delayed medical help-seeking behavior (HSB). Our mixed-methods systematic review synthesized existing studies in LMICs to understand psychosocial influences on cancer-related medical HSB to inform the development of effective interventions to promote earlier HSB for cancer. METHODS We searched peer-reviewed literature databases for quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods studies exploring barriers/facilitators to medical HSB for cancer symptoms in adults living in LMICs. Study exclusion criteria were low methodologic quality, non-English language publication, non–peer-reviewed publication, and studies conducted in high-income countries. Study findings were synthesized using meta-analysis, meta-ethnography, and narrative synthesis methods, according to individual study design. RESULTS Fifty studies were included. Many studies used nonstandardized measures/designs, which increased the difficulty integrating findings. Preliminary findings indicate that the use of traditional healers is a key barrier to prompt medical HSB in LMICs. Use of traditional healers for cancer symptoms/treatment was influenced by causal beliefs about symptoms, familial pressure, ease of access, affordability, and a preference to avoid biomedical treatment, which was perceived as invasive, ineffective, and expensive. Additional psychosocial barriers included shame and stigma associated with cancer, such as fear of marital rejection/divorce; limited knowledge of cancer and associated symptoms; financial and access barriers associated with travel and appointments; and cultural barriers, such as women needing permission from the family network. CONCLUSION Such barriers as low symptom knowledge and negative beliefs about cancer are universal barriers to cancer HSB in high-income countries and LMICs, whereas the use of traditional healers and women needing permission to seek medical help seem to be unique to LMICs. Intervention developers should work with local communities to appropriately tailor cancer awareness interventions in LMICs, taking into account cultural influences on HSB. Future evaluations would benefit from using validated measures and robust study designs.

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HIV Infections and Food Insecurity Among Pregnant Women from Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

AIDS and Behavior ◽

10.1007/s10461-021-03280-2 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Marcos Pereira ◽

Laio Magno ◽

Luana da Silva Gonçalves ◽

Inês Dourado

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Food Insecurity ◽

Pregnant Women ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Hiv Infections ◽

Middle Income ◽

Middle Income Countries ◽

Low And Middle Income

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Timing of Pubertal Milestones in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Advances in Nutrition ◽

10.1093/advances/nmaa007 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 (4) ◽

pp. 951-959 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Jenna L Moodie ◽

Susan C Campisi ◽

Kristen Salena ◽

Megan Wheatley ◽

Ashley Vandermorris ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Grey Literature ◽

Tanner Stage ◽

High Income ◽

Age At Menarche ◽

Middle Income ◽

Middle Income Countries ◽

The Impact ◽

Low And Middle Income

ABSTRACT Despite increasing global attention to adolescent health in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), limited literature exists on the timing of pubertal development in these settings. This study aimed to determine the age at menarche (AAM) and age of puberty onset [female Tanner Stage Breast 2 (B2) and male Tanner Stage Genital 2 (G2)] among healthy adolescents living in LMICs. It also aimed to explore the impact of nutritional status on pubertal timing in this population. MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane CENTRAL, Web of Science, Scopus, and grey literature databases were searched. Observational studies and control arms of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with healthy participants from LMICs born in or after 1998 were included. Pooled estimates with 95% CIs were calculated by random-effects meta-analyses using the DerSimonian and Laird inverse variance method for each pubertal milestone and by BMI category subgroups. Twenty-seven studies were included in the meta-analysis, representing 90,188 adolescents (78.3% female). Pooled mean estimates for AAM for normal, thin, and overweight BMI groupings were 12.3 y (95% CI: 12.1, 12.5), 12.4 y (95% CI: 12.2, 12.6), and 12.1 y (95% CI: 11.7, 12.5), respectively. For Tanner Stage B2, pooled mean age estimates for normal, thin, and overweight BMI groupings were 10.4 y (95% CI: 9.2, 11.6), 10.2 y (95% CI: 9.3, 11.4), and 8.4 y (95% CI: 6.8, 10.0), respectively. Finally, for Tanner Stage G2, pooled mean estimates for normal, thin, and overweight BMI groupings were 11.0 y (95% CI: 10.3, 11.7), 11.3 y (95% CI: 9.8, 12.9), and 10.3 y (95% CI: 10.0, 10.6), respectively. Data on the timing of pubertal milestones has traditionally come from high-income settings. In this systematic review of contemporary data from adolescents in LMICs, AAM, as well as age at pubertal onset, were similar to those reported from high-income settings.

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