scholarly journals The use of unmanned aerial vehicles for health purposes: a systematic review of experimental studies

2018 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. M. Carrillo-Larco ◽  
M. Moscoso-Porras ◽  
A. Taype-Rondan ◽  
A. Ruiz-Alejos ◽  
A. Bernabe-Ortiz
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles ◽  
Human Subjects ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Unmanned Aircraft ◽  
Inclusion Criteria ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Hospital Cardiac Arrest

BackgroundUnmanned aircraft vehicles (UAVs) have had a rapid escalation in manageability and affordability, which can be exploited in healthcare. We conducted a systematic review examining the use of drones for health-related purposes.MethodsA search was conducted in Medline, Embase, Global Health, Scopus, CINAHL and SciELO. Experimental studies were selected if the population included human subjects, the intervention was the use of UAVs and there was a health-related outcome.ResultsOf 500 results, five met inclusion criteria during an initial search. An updated search yielded four additional studies. Nine studies, all in high-income countries, were included for systematic syntheses: four studies addressed out-of-hospital cardiac arrest emergencies, three assessed drones for identification of people after accidents, one used drones to transport blood samples and one used drones to improve surgical procedures in war zones.ConclusionsResearch on the use of drones in healthcare is limited to simulation scenarios, and this review did not retrieve any studies from low- and middle-income countries.

scholarly journals Epidemics, Lockdown Measures and Vulnerable Populations: A Mixed-Methods Systematic Review of the Evidence of Impacts on Mother and Child Health in Low-And- Lower Middle-Income Countries

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giuliano Russo ◽  
Tiago Silva Jesus ◽  
Kevin Deane ◽  
Abdinasir Yusuf Osman ◽  
David McCoy
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Inclusion Criteria ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Premature Deaths ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Mother And Child ◽  
New Research ◽  
The Impact

Background: The aim of this research was to synthetise the existing evidence on the impact of epidemic-related lockdown measures on women and children’s health in low-and-lower-middle-income countries. Methods: A mixed-methods systematic review was conducted of qualitative, quantitative and mixed-methods evidence. Between November 1st-10th 2021, seven scientific databases were searched. The inclusion criteria were that the paper provided evidence on the impact of lockdown and related measures, focused on low-and-lower-middle-income countries, addressed impacts on women and child’s health, addressed epidemics from 2000-2020, was peer-reviewed, provided original evidence, and was published in English. The Joanne Briggs Institute’s critical appraisal tools were used to assess the quality of the studies, and the PRISMA guidelines for reporting. The evidence from the papers was grouped by type of lockdown measure and categories of impact, using a narrative data-based convergent synthesis design. Results: The review process identified 46 papers meeting the inclusion criteria from 17 countries whichall focussed on the COVID-19 and Ebola epidemics. The evidence on the decrease of utilisation of health services showed plummeting immunisation rates and faltering use of maternal and perinatal services, which was linked to a growth of premature deaths. Impacts on the mental health of children and women is well-established, with lockdowns associated with surges in depression, anxiety and low life satisfaction. Vulnerability may be compounded by lockdowns, as livelihoods are disrupted, and poverty levels increase. Conclusion: Limitations included that searches were conducted in late-2020 as new research was being published, and that some evidence not published in English may have been excluded. Epidemic-related lockdown measures carry consequences for the health of women and children in lower-income settings. Governments will need to weigh the trade-offs of introducing such measures and consider policies to mitigate their impacts on the most vulnerable.

scholarly journals Effects of integrated economic and health interventions with women’s groups on health-related knowledge, behaviours and outcomes in low-income and middle-income countries: a systematic review protocol

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. e046856
Author(s):  
Sapna Desai ◽  
Kala M Mehta ◽  
Roopal Jyoti Singh ◽  
Allie K Westley ◽  
Osasuyi Dirisu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Public Health Intervention ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Health Interventions ◽  
Women's Groups ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Women’S Groups ◽  
Health Related

IntroductionEconomic groups, such as microfinance or self-help groups are widely implemented in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). Women’s groups are voluntary groups, which aim to improve the well-being of members through activities, such as joint savings, credit, livelihoods development and/or health activities. Health interventions are increasingly added on to existing women’s economic groups as a public health intervention for women and their families. Here, we present the protocol for a mixed-methods systematic review we will conduct of the evidence on integrated economic and health interventions on women’s groups to assess whether and how they improve health-related knowledge, behaviour and outcomes in LMICs.Methods and analysisWe will search seven electronic databases for published literature, along with manual searches and consultation. The review will include (1) randomised trials and non-randomised quasiexperimental studies of intervention effects of integrated economic and health interventions delivered through women’s groups in LMICs, and (2) sibling studies that examine factors related to intervention content, context, implementation processes and costs. We will appraise risk of bias and study quality using standard tools. High and moderate quality studies will be grouped by health domain and synthesised without meta-analysis. Qualitative evidence will be thematically synthesised and integrated into the quantitative synthesis using a matrix approach.Ethics and disseminationThis protocol was reviewed and deemed exempt by the institutional review board at the American Institutes for Research. Findings will be shared through peer-reviewed publication and disseminated with programme implementers and policymakers engaged with women’s groups.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42020199998.

scholarly journals Examining the use of economic evaluations in health-related humanitarian programmes in low- and middle-income countries: a systematic review

2019 ◽  
Vol 35 (2) ◽  
pp. 210-218 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lizna A Makhani ◽  
Valerie Moran ◽  
Zia Sadique ◽  
Neha S Singh ◽  
Paul Revill ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Economic Evaluation ◽  
Bibliographic Databases ◽  
Economic Evaluations ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
System Perspective ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Humanitarian Crises ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Low And Middle Income

Abstract The costly nature of health sector responses to humanitarian crises and resource constraints means that there is a need to identify methods for priority setting and long-term planning. One method is economic evaluation. The aim of this systematic review is to examine the use of economic evaluations in health-related humanitarian programmes in low- and middle-income countries. This review used peer-reviewed literature published between January 1980 and June 2018 extracted from four main electronic bibliographic databases. The eligibility criteria were full economic evaluations (which compare the costs and outcomes of at least two interventions and provide information on efficiency) of health-related services in humanitarian crises in low- and middle-countries. The quality of eligible studies is appraised using the modified 36-question Drummond checklist. From a total of 8127 total studies, 11 full economic evaluations were identified. All economic evaluations were cost-effectiveness analyses. Three of the 11 studies used a provider perspective, 2 studies used a healthcare system perspective, 3 studies used a societal perspective and 3 studies did not specify the perspective used. The lower quality studies failed to provide 7information on the unit of costs and did not justify the time horizon of costs and discount rates, or conduct a sensitivity analysis. There was limited geographic range of the studies, with 9 of the 11 studies conducted in Africa. Recommendations include greater use of economic evaluation methods and data to enhance the microeconomic understanding of health interventions in humanitarian settings to support greater efficiency and transparency and to strengthen capacity by recruiting economists and providing training in economic methods to humanitarian agencies.

scholarly journals Impact of improved cookstoves on women’s and child health in low and middle income countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Thorax ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 73 (11) ◽  
pp. 1026-1040 ◽  
Author(s):  
Megha Thakur ◽  
Paulien A W Nuyts ◽  
Esther A Boudewijns ◽  
Javier Flores Kim ◽  
Timor Faber ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Preterm Birth ◽  
Child Health ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Quasi Experimental ◽  
Women And Children ◽  
Low And Middle Income

ObjectivesImproved biomass cookstoves may help reduce the substantial global burden of morbidity and mortality due to household air pollution (HAP) that disproportionately affects women and children in low and middle income countries (LMICs).DesignSystematic review and meta-analysis of (quasi-)experimental studies identified from 13 electronic databases (last update: 6 April 2018), reference and citation searches and via expert consultation.SettingLMICsParticipantsWomen and childrenInterventionsImproved biomass cookstovesMain outcome measuresLow birth weight (LBW), preterm birth, perinatal mortality, paediatric acute respiratory infections (ARIs) and COPD among women.ResultsWe identified 53 eligible studies, including 24 that met prespecified design criteria. Improved cookstoves had no demonstrable impact on paediatric lower ARIs (three studies; 11 560 children; incidence rate ratio (IRR)=1.02 (95% CI 0.84 to 1.24)), severe pneumonia (two studies; 11 061 children; IRR=0.88 (95% CI 0.39 to 2.01)), LBW (one study; 174 babies; OR=0.74 (95% CI 0.33 to 1.66)) or miscarriages, stillbirths and infant mortality (one study; 1176 babies; risk ratio (RR) change=15% (95% CI –13 to 43)). No (quasi-)experimental studies assessed preterm birth or COPD. In observational studies, improved cookstoves were associated with a significant reduction in COPD among women: two studies, 9757 participants; RR=0.74 (95% CI 0.61 to 0.90). Reductions in cough (four studies, 1779 participants; RR=0.72 (95% CI 0.60 to 0.87)), phlegm (four studies, 1779 participants; RR=0.65 (95% CI 0.52 to 0.80)), wheezing/breathing difficulty (four studies; 1779 participants; RR=0.41 (95% CI 0.29 to 0.59)) and conjunctivitis (three studies, 892 participants; RR=0.58 (95% CI 0.43 to 0.78)) were observed among women.ConclusionImproved cookstoves provide respiratory and ocular symptom reduction and may reduce COPD risk among women, but had no demonstrable child health impact.RegistrationPROSPERO: CRD42016033075

scholarly journals Exploring experiences of infertility amongst women and men in low-income and middle-income countries: protocol for a qualitative systematic review

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. e050528
Author(s):  
Pooja Sripad ◽  
Sapna Desai ◽  
Ricardo Regules ◽  
Suchandrima Chakraborty ◽  
Helen Habib ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Human Subjects ◽  
Grey Literature ◽  
Public Health Issue ◽  
Global Public Health ◽  
Related Factors ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Qualitative Evidence

IntroductionInfertility is increasingly recognised as a global public health issue for women and men that merits further investigation to support policy and programming. While research in high-income settings has examined the consequences of infertility and access to services, there has been limited synthesis of how individuals experience infertility in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). This protocol describes a systematic review that will synthesise qualitative evidence on experiences of infertility among women and men in LMICs.Methods and analysisThe review will follow the Enhancing transparency in reporting the synthesis of qualitative research (ENTREQ) guidelines for reporting on qualitative evidence syntheses. The study team will search for published literature in PubMed, CINAHL and Scopus and PsycINFO databases and review available grey literature. Using Covidence software, two independent reviewers will conduct title and abstract screening based on inclusion and exclusion criteria, followed by full-text reviews and extraction by a larger team. Quality will be appraised using an adapted version of the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme guidelines. We will conduct thematic synthesis to characterise individual experiences and related factors at the individual, interpersonal, community and health system levels. We will develop a conceptual framework to describe evidence on experiences of infertility in LMICs and to help inform interventions across settings.Ethics and disseminationThis protocol has been internally approved as exempt by the Institutional Review Board of the Population Council, as it does not involve contact with human subjects or personally identifying data. Results of the review will be published in a peer-reviewed journal and will be used to inform future infertility research and programming in LMICs.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42021227742.

scholarly journals Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of the Birth Prevalence of Orofacial Clefts in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

2017 ◽  
Vol 54 (5) ◽  
pp. 571-581 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ayesha Kadir ◽  
Peter A. Mossey ◽  
M. Orth ◽  
Hannah Blencowe ◽  
Moorthie Sowmiya ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Cleft Lip ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Review Of The Literature ◽  
Inclusion Criteria ◽  
Orofacial Clefts ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Birth Prevalence ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Low And Middle Income

Background In the last comprehensive review of the literature published in 2002, little information on the prevalence of orofacial clefts was available from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Objective To analyze published data on the birth prevalence of cleft lip and/or palate ( CL/P) from LMIC. Design Systematic review of the literature and meta-analysis of data from original papers on the birth prevalence of cleft lip and/or cleft palate (CL/P) in LMICs between 1990 and 2014. Secondary inclusion criteria were developed to analyze lower-quality studies from countries with scarce data. Main Outcome Measure Birth prevalence of undifferentiated CL/P (with or without associated syndrome or other anomaly). Results Twenty-eight studies met strict inclusion criteria. Among 31,475,278 total births, the pooled birth prevalence of undifferentiated CL/P was 1.38 per 1000 births (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.20 to 1.56). Four studies met criteria for secondary analysis, providing data on 75,627 births, with a pooled prevalence of 0.75 CL/P cases per 1000 births (95% CI: 0.56 to 0.95). Comparison of studies was limited by variable definitions of cases and of the reference population and by inconsistent reporting of outcomes. There is significant heterogeneity in the findings. Conclusions In LMICs, approximately 1 in every 730 children is born with CL/P. To optimize comparability across settings, future research should use a standard classification system and standard criteria for data collection and presentation. As clefting is associated with deprivation, understanding the true scale, risks, and preventive measures for orofacial clefts in LMIC is a matter of both scientific and humanitarian importance.

scholarly journals Cost of Utilising Maternal Health Services in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic Review

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aduragbemi Banke-Thomas ◽  
Francis Ifeanyi Ayomoh ◽  
Ibukun-Oluwa Omolade Abejirinde ◽  
Oluwasola Banke-Thomas ◽  
Ejemai Amaize Eboreime ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Maternal Health ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Maternal Health Services ◽  
Maternal Health Service ◽  
Inclusion Criteria ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Cost Drivers ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Low And Middle Income

Background: Cost is a major barrier to maternal health service utilisation for many women in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). However, comparable evidence of the available cost data in these countries is limited. We conducted a systematic review and comparative analysis of costs of utilising maternal health services in these settings. Methods: We searched peer-reviewed and grey literature databases for articles reporting cost of utilising maternal health services in LMICs published post-2000. All retrieved records were screened and articles meeting the inclusion criteria selected. Quality assessment was performed using the relevant cost-specific criteria of the Consolidated Health Economic Evaluation Reporting Standards (CHEERS) checklist. To guarantee comparability, disaggregated costs data were inflated to 2019 US dollar equivalents. Total adjusted costs and cost drivers associated with utilising each service were systematically compared. Where heterogeneity in methods or non-disaggregated costs was observed, narrative synthesis was used to summarise findings. Results: Thirty-six studies met our inclusion criteria. Many of the studies costed multiple services. However, the most frequently costed services were utilisation of normal vaginal delivery (22 studies), caesarean delivery (13), and antenatal care (ANC) (10). The least costed services were post-natal care (PNC) and post-abortion care (PAC) (5 each). Studies used varied methods for data collection and analysis and their quality ranged from low to high with most assessed as average or high. Generally, across all included studies, cost of utilisation progressively increased from ANC and PNC to delivery and PAC, and from public to private providers. Medicines and diagnostics were main cost drivers for ANC and PNC while cost drivers were variable for delivery. Women experienced financial burden of utilising maternal health services and also had to pay some unofficial costs to access care, even where formal exemptions existed. Conclusion: Consensus regarding approach for costing maternal health services will help to improve their relevance for supporting policy-making towards achieving universal health coverage. If indeed the post-2015 mission of the global community is to "leave no one behind," then we need to ensure that women and their families are not facing unnecessary and unaffordable costs that could potentially tip them into poverty.

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