scholarly journals Mobile applications addressing violence against women: a systematic review

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. e001954 ◽  
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.

scholarly journals A systematic review of interventions for reducing heavy episodic drinking in sub-Saharan African settings

PLoS ONE ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (12) ◽  
pp. e0242678
Author(s):  
Katelyn M. Sileo ◽  
Amanda P. Miller ◽  
Tina A. Huynh ◽  
Susan M. Kiene
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Behavioral Therapy ◽  
Blood Alcohol Concentration ◽  
Alcohol Concentration ◽  
Heavy Episodic Drinking ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Pharmacological Interventions ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
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.

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

2020 ◽  
Vol 148 ◽  
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.

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

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.

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

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

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

2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
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

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

2020 ◽  
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.

scholarly journals AIDS-defining causes of death from autopsy findings for HIV-positive individuals in sub-Saharan Africa in the pre- and post-ART era: A systematic review and meta-analyses

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
pp. 1509
Author(s):  
Nazia Peer ◽  
Isaac I. Bogoch ◽  
Quique Bassat ◽  
Leslie Newcombe ◽  
Leah K. Watson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Causes Of Death ◽  
Opportunistic Infections ◽  
Kidney Diseases ◽  
Population Group ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Art Programs ◽  
Autopsy Findings ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Meta Analyses

Background: The lack of representative data on causes of death in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) hampers our understanding of the regional burden of HIV and impact of interventions. In spite of the roll-out of antiretroviral therapy (ART) programs, HIV-infected individuals are still dying from complications of AIDS in SSA. We reviewed autopsy findings in SSA to observe whether the prevalence of 14 AIDS-defining illnesses changed from the pre-ART era to the post-ART era. Methods: We conducted a systematic review of autopsy findings in SSA using Medline, CINAHL, Evidence Based Medicine, EMBASE, Scopus, Web of Science, and abstracts from the Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections, for literature published between January 1, 1990 and September 30, 2018. We focused on 14 AIDS-defining illnesses as causes of death. Results: In total, 33 studies were identified, including 9 from South Africa, 4 from the Ivory Coast, and the rest from eastern regions of sub-Saharan Africa. Of these, 18 studies were included in the meta-analyses for each of the AIDS-defining illnesses for adults. A ‘mixed group’ of studies that included adults and children was used for separate meta-analyses. Most opportunistic infections (OIs) showed a decrease in prevalence, with the notable exception of tuberculosis (TB), which showed a 13% increase in adult deaths and a 5% increase in mixed population group deaths. Kaposi’s sarcoma and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma both showed a notable increase in prevalence, and liver disease showed a 10% increase in prevalence in the adult group. Conclusions: Even though ART has reduced the contribution of OIs to causes of death for people infected with HIV in SSA, targeted and strategic efforts are needed in order to strengthen existing prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of TB. More research is required to understand the complex role ARTs have on liver and kidney diseases.

scholarly journals Prevalence of uncontrolled hypertension in people with comorbidities in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. e045880
Author(s):  
Shukri F Mohamed ◽  
Olalekan A Uthman ◽  
Martin K Mutua ◽  
G Asiki ◽  
Mustapha S Abba ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Atrial Fibrillation ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
Kidney Disease ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Uncontrolled Hypertension ◽  
Diabetic Patients ◽  
Registration Number ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Meta Analyses

BackgroundThe burden of uncontrolled hypertension in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is high and hypertension is known to coexist with other chronic diseases such as kidney disease, diabetes among others. This is the first systematic review and meta-analysis to determine the burden of uncontrolled hypertension among patients with comorbidities in SSA.MethodsA comprehensive search was conducted on MEDLINE, Excerpta Medica Database (Embase) and Web of Science to identify all relevant articles published between 1 January 2000 and 17 June 2021. We included studies that reported on the prevalence of uncontrolled hypertension among people in SSA who report taking antihypertensive treatment and have another chronic condition. A random-effects meta-analysis was performed to obtain the pooled estimate of the prevalence of uncontrolled hypertension among patients with comorbid conditions while on treatment across studies in SSA.ResultsIn all, 20 articles were included for meta-analyses. Eleven articles were among diabetic patients, five articles were among patients with HIV, two were among patients with stroke while chronic kidney disease and atrial fibrillation had one article each. The pooled prevalence of uncontrolled hypertension among patients with comorbidities was 78.6% (95% CI 71.1% to 85.3%); I² 95.9%, varying from 73.1% in patients with stroke to 100.0% in patients with atrial fibrillation. Subgroup analysis showed differences in uncontrolled hypertension prevalence by various study-level characteristicsConclusionThis study suggests a high burden of uncontrolled hypertension in people with comorbidities in SSA. Strategies to improve the control of hypertension among people with comorbidities are needed.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42019108218.

scholarly journals Implementation of medicines pricing policies in sub-Saharan Africa: protocol for a systematic review

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. e044293
Author(s):  
Tolib Mirzoev ◽  
Augustina Koduah ◽  
Anna Cronin de Chavez ◽  
Leonard Baatiema ◽  
Anthony Danso-Appiah ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Policy Implementation ◽  
Systematic Reviews ◽  
Grey Literature ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Pricing Policies ◽  
Academic Publications ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Assess Quality ◽  
Meta Analyses

IntroductionEnsuring universal availability and accessibility of medicines and supplies is critical for national health systems to equitably address population health needs. In sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), this is a recognised priority with multiple medicines pricing policies enacted. However, medicine prices have remained high, continue to rise and constrain their accessibility. In this systematic review, we aim to identify and analyse experiences of implementation of medicines pricing policies in SSA. Our ambition is for this evidence to contribute to improved implementation of medicines pricing policies in SSA.Methods and analysisWe will search: Medline, Web of Science, Scopus, Global Health, Embase, Cairn.Info International Edition, Erudit and African Index Medicus, the grey literature and reference from related publications. The searches will be limited to literature published from the year 2000 onwards that is, since the start of the Millennium Development Goals.Published peer-reviewed studies of implementation of medicines pricing policies in SSA will be eligible for inclusion. Broader policy analyses and documented experiences of implementation of other health policies will be excluded. The team will collaboratively screen titles and abstracts, then two reviewers will independently screen full texts, extract data and assess quality of the included studies. Disagreements will be resolved by discussion or a third reviewer. Data will be extracted on approaches used for policy implementation, actors involved, evidence used in decision making and key contextual influences on policy implementation. A narrative approach will be used to synthesise the data. Reporting will be informed by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Protocols guideline.Ethics and disseminationNo ethics approvals are required for systematic reviews.Results will be disseminated through academic publications, policy briefs and presentations to national policymakers in Ghana and mode widely across countries in SSA.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42020178166.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document