scholarly journals Using WhatsApp messenger for health systems research: a scoping review of available literature

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karima Manji ◽  
Johanna Hanefeld ◽  
Jo Vearey ◽  
Helen Walls ◽  
Thea de Gruchy
Keyword(s):  
Data Collection ◽  
Scoping Review ◽  
Health Research ◽  
Instant Messaging ◽  
Data Collection Tool ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Systems Research ◽  
Quantitative Studies ◽  
International Borders

Abstract Globally, the use of mobile phones for improving access to healthcare and conducting health research has gained traction in recent years as rates of ownership increase, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Mobile instant messaging applications, including WhatsApp Messenger, provide new and affordable opportunities for health research across time and place, potentially addressing the challenges of maintaining contact and participation involved in research with migrant and mobile populations, for example. However, little is known about the opportunities and challenges associated with the use of WhatsApp as a tool for health research. To inform our study, we conducted a scoping review of published health research that uses WhatsApp as a data collection tool. A key reason for focusing on WhatsApp is the ability to retain contact with participants when they cross international borders. Five key public health databases were searched for articles containing the words ‘WhatsApp’ and ‘health research’ in their titles and abstracts. We identified 69 articles, 16 of which met our inclusion criteria for review. We extracted data pertaining to the characteristics of the research. Across the 16 studies—11 of which were based in LMICs—WhatsApp was primarily used in one of two ways. In the eight quantitative studies identified, seven used WhatsApp to send hyperlinks to online surveys. With one exception, the eight studies that employed a qualitative (n = 6) or mixed-method (n = 2) design analysed the WhatsApp content generated through a WhatsApp-based programmatic intervention. We found a lack of attention paid to research ethics across the studies, which is concerning given the controversies WhatsApp has faced with regard to data protection in relation to end-to-end encryption. We provide recommendations to address these issues for researchers considering using WhatsApp as a data collection tool over time and place.

scholarly journals Maternal and neonatal data collection systems in low- and middle-income countries: scoping review protocol

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. 18 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mabel Berrueta ◽  
Ariel Bardach ◽  
Agustin Ciaponni ◽  
Xu Xiong ◽  
Andy Stergachis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Data Collection ◽  
Scoping Review ◽  
Care Delivery ◽  
Grey Literature ◽  
Adverse Event Reporting ◽  
Vulnerable Groups ◽  
Recent Analysis ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Low And Middle Income

Background: Pregnant women and neonates represent one of the most vulnerable groups, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). A recent analysis reported that most vaccine pharmacovigilance systems in LMICs consist of spontaneous (passive) adverse event reporting. Thus, LMICs need effective active surveillance approaches, such as pregnancy registries. We intend to identify currently active maternal and neonatal data collection systems in LMICs, with the potential to inform active safety electronic surveillance for novel vaccines using standardized definitions. Methods: A scoping review will be conducted based on established methodology. Multiple databases of indexed and grey literature will be searched with a specific focus on existing electronic and paper-electronic systems in LMICs that collect continuous, prospective, and individual-level data from antenatal care, delivery, neonatal care (up to 28 days), and postpartum (up to 42 days) at the facility and community level, at the national and district level, and at large hospitals. Also, experts will be contacted to identify unpublished information on relevant data collection systems. General and specific descriptions of Health Information Systems (HIS) extracted from the different sources will be combined and duplicated HIS will be removed, producing a list of unique statements. We will present a final list of Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health systems considered flexible enough to be updated with necessary improvements to detect, assess and respond to safety concerns during the introduction of vaccines and other maternal health interventions. Selected experts will participate in an in-person consultation meeting to select up to three systems to be further explored in situ. Results and knowledge gaps will be synthesized after expert consultation.

scholarly journals Maternal and neonatal data collection systems in low- and middle-income countries for maternal vaccines active safety surveillance systems: A scoping review

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mabel Berrueta ◽  
◽  
Agustin Ciapponi ◽  
Ariel Bardach ◽  
Federico Rodriguez Cairoli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Data Collection ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Scoping Review ◽  
Active Safety ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Maternal Immunization ◽  
Safety Surveillance ◽  
Perinatal Data ◽  
Low And Middle Income

Abstract Background Most post-licensure vaccine pharmacovigilance in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are passive reporting systems. These have limited utility for maternal immunization pharmacovigilance in LMIC settings and need to be supplemented with active surveillance. Our study’s main objective was to identify existing perinatal data collection systems in LMICs that collect individual information on maternal and neonatal health outcomes and could be developed to inform active safety surveillance of novel vaccines for use during pregnancy. Methods A scoping review was performed following the Arksey and O’Malley six-stage approach. We included studies describing electronic or mixed paper-electronic data collection systems in LMICs, including research networks, electronic medical records, and custom software platforms for health information systems. Medline PubMed, EMBASE, Global Health, Cochrane Library, LILACS, Bibliography of Asian Studies (BAS), and CINAHL were searched through August 2019. We also searched grey literature including through Google and websites of existing relevant perinatal data collection systems, as well as contacted authors of key studies and experts in the field to validate the information and identify additional sources of relevant unpublished information. Results A total of 11,817 records were identified. The full texts of 264 records describing 96 data collection systems were assessed for eligibility. Eight perinatal data collection systems met our inclusion criteria: Global Network’s Maternal Newborn Health Registry, International Network for the Demographic Evaluation of Populations and their Health; Perinatal Informatic System; Pregnancy Exposure Registry & Birth Defects Surveillance; SmartCare; Open Medical Record System; Open Smart Register Platform and District Health Information Software 2. These selected systems were qualitatively characterized according to seven different domains: governance; system design; system management; data management; data sources, outcomes and data quality. Conclusion This review provides a list of active maternal and neonatal data collection systems in LMICs and their characteristics as well as their outreach, strengths, and limitations. Findings could potentially help further understand where to obtain population-based high-quality information on outcomes to inform the conduct of maternal immunization active vaccine safety surveillance activities and research in LMICs.

scholarly journals Definitions of Severity in Treatment Seeking Studies of Febrile Illness in Children in Low and Middle Income Countries: A Scoping Review

2021 ◽  
Vol 66 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nina C. Brunner ◽  
Phyllis Awor ◽  
Manuel W. Hetzel
Keyword(s):  
Scoping Review ◽  
Febrile Illness ◽  
Treatment Seeking ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Quantitative Studies ◽  
Quantitative Analyses ◽  
Research Questions ◽  
Children Under 5 ◽  
Low And Middle Income

Objectives: Understanding treatment seeking for severe febrile illness (SFI) is methodologically challenging. In this scoping review, we investigate definitions of severe febrile illness in treatment seeking studies on children under 5 years of age in low and middle income countries. We analyze the association of SFI definitions with different concepts of treatment seeking and identify related research gaps.Methods: We searched Pubmed, Scopus and WHOLIS, and screened references of included publications for eligibility.Results: Definitions of SFI had either a biomedical perspective (predominantly in quantitative studies) or a caregiver perspective (predominantly in qualitative studies). In quantitative analyses of treatment seeking, severity was more often conceptualized as a determinant rather than an outcome of a treatment seeking process. The majority of quantitative analyses only included surviving children or did not explicitly mention dead children.Conclusion: Different research questions lead to diverse definitions and concepts of severity and treatment seeking outcomes, which limits the comparability of the available evidence. Systematic exclusion of dead children is likely to bias inferences on the association of treatment seeking and health outcomes of children with SFI in low and middle income countries.

scholarly journals Mental health research in the lower-middle-income countries of Africa and Asia during the COVID-19 pandemic: A scoping review

2020 ◽  
Vol 38 ◽  
pp. 54-64
Author(s):  
Sujita Kumar Kar ◽  
Tosin Philip Oyetunji ◽  
Aathira J. Prakash ◽  
Olusegun Ayomikun Ogunmola ◽  
Sarvodaya Tripathy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Scoping Review ◽  
Health Research ◽  
Mental Health Research ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries

scholarly journals Ethical guidance for health research in prisons in low- and middle-income countries: a scoping review

Public Health ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 186 ◽  
pp. 217-227
Author(s):  
T. Ako ◽  
E. Plugge ◽  
R. Mhlanga-Gunda ◽  
M.C. Van Hout
Keyword(s):  
Scoping Review ◽  
Health Research ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Ethical Guidance ◽  
Low And Middle Income

scholarly journals Advancing the science of health research capacity strengthening in low-income and middle-income countries: a scoping review of the published literature, 2000–2016

BMJ Open ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (12) ◽  
pp. e018718 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Dean ◽  
Stefanie Gregorius ◽  
Imelda Bates ◽  
Justin Pulford
Keyword(s):  
Scoping Review ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Health Research ◽  
Research Capacity ◽  
Evidence Base ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Capacity Strengthening ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Research Capacity Strengthening ◽  
Programme Planning

ObjectivesSubstantial development assistance and research funding are invested in health research capacity strengthening (HRCS) interventions in low-income and middle-income countries, yet the effectiveness, impact and value for money of these investments are not well understood. A major constraint to evidence-informed HRCS intervention has been the disparate nature of the research effort to date. This review aims to map and critically analyse the existing HRCS effort to better understand the level, type, cohesion and conceptual sophistication of the current evidence base. The overall goal of this article is to advance the development of a unified, implementation-focused HRCS science.MethodsWe used a scoping review methodology to identify peer-reviewed HRCS literature within the following databases: PubMed, Global Health and Scopus. HRCS publications available in English between the period 2000 and 2016 were included. 1195 articles were retrieved of which 172 met the final inclusion criteria. A priori thematic analysis of all included articles was completed. Content analysis of identified HRCS definitions was conducted.ResultsThe number of HRCS publications increased exponentially between 2000 and 2016. Most publications during this period were perspective, opinion or commentary pieces; however, original research publications were the primary publication type since 2013. Twenty-five different definitions of research capacity strengthening were identified, of which three aligned with current HRCS guidelines.ConclusionsThe review findings indicate that an HRCS research field with a focus on implementation science is emerging, although the conceptual and empirical bases are not yet sufficiently advanced to effectively inform HRCS programme planning. Consolidating an HRCS implementation science therefore presents as a viable option that may accelerate the development of a useful evidence base to inform HRCS programme planning. Identifying an agreed operational definition of HRCS, standardising HRCS-related terminology, developing a needs-based HRCS-specific research agenda and synthesising currently available evidence may be useful first steps.

scholarly journals Maternal and neonatal data collection systems in low- and middle-income countries for maternal vaccines active safety surveillance systems: A scoping review

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mabel Berrueta ◽  
Agustin Ciapponi ◽  
Ariel Bardach ◽  
Federico Rodriguez Cairoli ◽  
Fabricio J. Castellano ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Data Collection ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Scoping Review ◽  
Active Safety ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Maternal Immunization ◽  
Safety Surveillance ◽  
Perinatal Data ◽  
Low And Middle Income

Abstract Background Most post-licensure vaccine pharmacovigilance in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are passive reporting systems. These have limited utility for maternal immunization pharmacovigilance in LMIC settings and need to be supplemented with active surveillance. Our study's main objective was to identify existing perinatal data collection systems in LMICs that collect individual information on maternal and neonatal health outcomes and could be developed to inform active safety surveillance of novel vaccines for use during pregnancy. Methods A scoping review was performed following the Arksey and O’Malley five-stage approach. We included studies describing electronic or mixed paper-electronic data collection systems in LMICs, including research networks, electronic medical records, and custom software platforms for health information systems. Medline PubMed, EMBASE, Global Health, Cochrane Library, LILACS, Bibliography of Asian Studies (BAS), and CINAHL were searched through August 2019. We also searched grey literature including through Google and websites of existing relevant perinatal data collection systems, as well as contacted authors of key studies and experts in the field to validate the information and identify additional sources of relevant unpublished information. Results A total of 11,817 records were identified. The full texts of 264 records describing 96 data collection systems were assessed for eligibility. Eight perinatal data collection systems met our inclusion criteria: Global Network’s Maternal Newborn Health Registry, International Network for the Demographic Evaluation of Populations and their Health; Perinatal Informatic System; Pregnancy Exposure Registry & Birth Defects Surveillance; SmartCare; Open Medical Record System; Open Smart Register Platform and District Health Information Software 2. These selected systems were qualitatively characterized according to seven different domains: governance; system design; system management; data management; data sources, outcomes and data quality. Conclusion This review provides a list of active maternal and neonatal data collection systems in LMICs and their characteristics as well as their outreach, strengths, and limitations. Findings could potentially help further understand where to obtain population-based high-quality information on outcomes to inform the conduct of maternal immunization active vaccine safety surveillance activities and research in LMICs.

Health research capacity in Nepal: Analysis of the trend and the role of local researchers

2021 ◽  
pp. 004947552098277
Author(s):  
Madhu Kharel ◽  
Alpha Pokharel ◽  
Krishna P Sapkota ◽  
Prasant V Shahi ◽  
Pratisha Shakya ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Research ◽  
Fold Increase ◽  
Research Capacity ◽  
Rapid Review ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Evidence Based Decision Making

Evidence-based decision-making is less common in low- and middle-income countries where the research capacity remains low. Nepal, a lower-middle-income country in Asia, is not an exception. We conducted a rapid review to identify the trend of health research in Nepal and found more than seven-fold increase in the number of published health-related articles between 2000 and 2018. The proportion of articles with Nepalese researchers as the first authors has also risen over the years, though they are still only in two-thirds of the articles in 2018.

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