Preventive malaria treatment among school-aged children in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review and meta-analyses

Objective Assess the effect of non-pharmacological alcohol interventions on reducing heavy episodic drinking (HED) outcomes in sub-Saharan Africa. Methods A systematic review of the available literature through August 19, 2020 was conducted. Randomized and non-randomized controlled trials testing non-pharmacological interventions on alcohol consumption in sub-Saharan Africa were eligible for inclusion. Eligible outcomes included measures of HED/binge drinking, and measures indicative of this pattern of drinking, such as high blood alcohol concentration or frequency of intoxication. Three authors extracted and reconciled relevant data and assessed risk of bias. The review protocol is available on PROSPERO (registration number: CRD42019094509). The Cochrane Handbook recommendations for the review of interventions and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines guided all methodology. Results Thirteen intervention trials were identified that met our inclusion criteria and measured change in HED. Studies were judged of moderate quality. A beneficial effect of non-pharmacological interventions on HED was reported in six studies, three of which were deemed clinically significant by the review authors; no statistically significant effects were identified in the other seven studies. Interventions achieving statistical and/or clinical significance had an intervention dose of two hours or greater, used an array of psychosocial approaches, including Motivational Interviewing integrated in Brief Intervention, cognitive behavioral therapy and integrated risk reduction interventions, and were delivered both individually and in groups. Conclusions Evidence for the effectiveness of non-pharmacological interventions to reduce HED in sub-Saharan African settings was limited, demonstrating the need for more research. To strengthen the literature, future research should employ more rigorous study designs, improve consistency of HED measurement, test interventions developed specifically to address HED, and explore structural approaches to HED reduction.

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Mobile applications addressing violence against women: a systematic review

BMJ Global Health ◽

10.1136/bmjgh-2019-001954 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 5 (4) ◽

pp. e001954 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Katharina Eisenhut ◽

Ela Sauerborn ◽

Claudia García-Moreno ◽

Verina Wild

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Violence Against Women ◽

Mobile Applications ◽

Qualitative Content Analysis ◽

Intervention Strategy ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Sub Saharan ◽

Meta Analyses ◽

Education Reporting ◽

Release Location

IntroductionViolence against women is a pressing global health problem that is being met with a new intervention strategy—mobile applications. With this systematic review, we provide an initial analysis and functional categorisation of apps addressing violence against women.MethodsWe conducted a systematic online search conforming with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines to identify apps addressing violence against women in five World Bank regions (Europe and Central Asia; North America, Latin America and the Caribbean; Middle East and North Africa; South Asia; and sub-Saharan Africa). Applications with location of initiation in mentioned regions and ≥100 downloads were included. Data on sector, target group(s), year of release, location of initiation and implementation were extracted. By means of a structured qualitative content analysis, applications were then categorised according to their main functions.ResultsOf 327 relevant applications, 171 were included into the systematic review and assigned to one of five identified categories of main functions, respectively: emergency, avoidance, education, reporting and evidence building, and supporting apps. The largest proportion (46.78%) consisted of emergency apps, followed by education, reporting and evidence building, supporting and avoidance apps in descending order. With regards to the geographical distribution of app categories, significant (χ2(20)=58.172; p=0.000) differences among the included regions were found.ConclusionA vast proportion of apps addressing violence against women primarily draw on one-time emergency or avoidance solutions, as opposed to more preventative approaches. Further research is necessary, critically considering questions of data security, personal safety and efficacy of such mobile health interventions.

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Evidence of an Overweight/Obesity Transition among School-Aged Children and Youth in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Review

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0092846 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 9 (3) ◽

pp. e92846 ◽

Cited By ~ 67

Author(s):

Stella K. Muthuri ◽

Claire E. Francis ◽

Lucy-Joy M. Wachira ◽

Allana G. LeBlanc ◽

Margaret Sampson ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Children And Youth ◽

School Aged Children ◽

Sub Saharan

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Enteric pathogens associated with gastroenteritis among children under 5 years in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Epidemiology and Infection ◽

10.1017/s0950268820000618 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 148 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

T. B. Oppong ◽

H. Yang ◽

C. Amponsem-Boateng ◽

E. K. D Kyere ◽

T. Abdulai ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Acute Diarrhoea ◽

Cochrane Collaboration ◽

Original Data ◽

Health Condition ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Sub Saharan ◽

Meta Analyses ◽

Children Under 5

Abstract Gastroenteritis remains a serious health condition among children under 5 years especially in Africa. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate the aetiologic pathogens of gastroenteritis in the region. We did a systematic search for articles with original data on the aetiology of gastroenteritis and acute diarrhoea among children younger than 5 years. Pooled results were extracted and analysed in STATA version 12.0 using random-effects for statistical test for homogeneity following the guidelines provided in the Cochrane Collaboration and Preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses. Overall, viruses accounted for 50.2% of the cases followed by bacteria with 31.6% of the cases. Parasites accounted for 12.1% of the case. Rotavirus was the most common cause of acute diarrhoea in all regions resulting in 29.2% of the cases followed by E. coli (15.6%) of diarrhoeal cases and Adenovirus (10.8%). The most prevalent parasite detected was Giardia lamblia (7.3%). Acute diarrhoea remains rampant with Rotavirus still being the major pathogen responsible for the disease in children less than 5 years old despite the introduction of vaccine. It is recommended that the vaccine should be promoted much more widely in the region.

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Efficacy of praziquantel treatment regimens in pre-school and school aged children infected with schistosomiasis in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review

Infectious Diseases of Poverty ◽

10.1186/s40249-018-0448-x ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 7 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Muhubiri Kabuyaya ◽

Moses John Chimbari ◽

Samson Mukaratirwa

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Treatment Regimens ◽

School Aged Children ◽

Praziquantel Treatment ◽

Sub Saharan

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Effectiveness of eHealth Interventions for HIV Prevention and Management in Sub-Saharan Africa: Systematic Review and Meta-analyses

AIDS and Behavior ◽

10.1007/s10461-021-03402-w ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Louisa Manby ◽

Catherine Aicken ◽

Marine Delgrange ◽

Julia V. Bailey

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Hiv Prevention ◽

Low Cost ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Hiv Management ◽

Sub Saharan ◽

Randomised Controlled ◽

Meta Analyses ◽

The Impact ◽

Biological Outcomes

AbstractHIV is still the leading cause of death in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), despite medical advances. eHealth interventions are effective for HIV prevention and management, but it is unclear whether this can be generalised to resource-poor settings. This systematic review aimed to establish the effectiveness of eHealth interventions in SSA. Six electronic databases were screened to identify randomised controlled trials (RCTs) published between 2000 and 2020. Meta-analyses were performed, following Cochrane methodology, to assess the impact of eHealth interventions on HIV-related behaviours and biological outcomes. 25 RCTs were included in the review. Meta-analyses show that eHealth interventions significantly improved HIV management behaviours (OR 1.21; 95% CI 1.05–1.40; Z = 2.67; p = 0.008), but not HIV prevention behaviours (OR 1.02; 95% CI 0.78–1.34; Z = 0.17; p = 0.86) or biological outcomes (OR 1.17; 95% CI 0.89–1.54; Z = 1.10; p = 0.27) compared with minimal intervention control groups. It is a hugely important finding that eHealth interventions can improve HIV management behaviours as this is a low-cost way of improving HIV outcomes and reducing the spread of HIV in SSA. PROSPERO registration number: CRD42020186025.

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Epidemiology of herpes simplex virus type 2 in sub-Saharan Africa: Systematic review, meta-analyses, and meta-regressions

EClinicalMedicine ◽

10.1016/j.eclinm.2021.100876 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 35 ◽

pp. 100876

Author(s):

Manale Harfouche ◽

Farah M. Abu-Hijleh ◽

Charlotte James ◽

Katharine J. Looker ◽

Laith J. Abu-Raddad

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Herpes Simplex Virus ◽

Herpes Simplex ◽

Virus Type ◽

Herpes Simplex Virus Type ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Sub Saharan ◽

Simplex Virus ◽

Meta Analyses

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Non-tuberculous Mycobacteria isolated from Pulmonary samples in sub-Saharan Africa - A Systematic Review and Meta Analyses

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-017-12175-z ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 7 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Catherine Okoi ◽

Suzanne T. B. Anderson ◽

Martin Antonio ◽

Sarah N. Mulwa ◽

Florian Gehre ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Sub Saharan ◽

Meta Analyses

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Treatment outcomes in adult tuberculous meningitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Open Forum Infectious Diseases ◽

10.1093/ofid/ofaa257 ◽

2020 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Anna M Stadelman ◽

Jayne Ellis ◽

Thomas H A Samuels ◽

Ernest Mutengesa ◽

Joanna Dobbin ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Treatment Outcomes ◽

Tuberculous Meningitis ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Hiv Positive ◽

Significant Heterogeneity ◽

Hiv Positive Adults ◽

Sub Saharan ◽

Meta Analyses

Abstract Background There is substantial variation in the reported treatment outcomes for adult tuberculous meningitis (TBM). Data on survival and neurological disability by continent and HIV serostatus are scarce. Methods We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to characterize treatment outcomes for adult TBM. Following a systematic literature search (MEDLINE and EMBASE), studies underwent duplicate screening by independent reviewers in two stages to assess eligibility for inclusion. Two independent reviewers extracted data from included studies. We employed a random effects model for all meta-analyses. We evaluated heterogeneity by the I2 statistic. Results We assessed 2,197 records for eligibility; 39 primary research articles met our inclusion criteria reporting on treatment outcomes for 5,752 adults with TBM. The commonest reported outcome measure was six-month mortality. Pooled six-month mortality was 24% and showed significant heterogeneity (I2 >95%; p<0·01). Mortality ranged from 2% to 67% in Asian studies and from 23% to 80% in sub-Saharan African studies. Mortality was significantly worse in HIV-positive adults at 57% (95%CI; 48-67%), compared with 16% (95%CI; 10-24%) in HIV-negative adults (p<0·01). Physical disability was reported in 32% (95%CI; 22-43%) of adult TBM survivors. There was considerable heterogeneity between studies in all meta-analyses with I2 statistics consistently >50%. Conclusions Mortality in adult TBM is high and varies considerably by continent and HIV-status. The highest mortality is amongst HIV-positive adults in sub-Saharan Africa. Standardized reporting of treatment outcomes will be essential to improve future data quality and increase potential for data sharing, meta-analyses, and facilitating multi-center tuberculosis research to improve outcomes.

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