scholarly journals Evidence-based interventions to reduce mortality among preterm and low-birthweight neonates in low-income and middle-income countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. e003618
Author(s):  
Mirjam Y Kleinhout ◽  
Merel M Stevens ◽  
Kwabena Aqyapong Osman ◽  
Kwame Adu-Bonsaffoh ◽  
Floris Groenendaal ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Low Birthweight ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Neonatal Resuscitation ◽  
Newborn Care ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Antenatal Corticosteroids ◽  
Essential Newborn Care ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries

BackgroundPreterm birth is the leading cause of under-five-mortality worldwide, with the highest burden in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). The aim of this study was to synthesise evidence-based interventions for preterm and low birthweight (LBW) neonates in LMICs, their associated neonatal mortality rate (NMR), and barriers and facilitators to their implementation. This study updates all existing evidence on this topic and reviews evidence on interventions that have not been previously considered in current WHO recommendations.MethodsSix electronic databases were searched until 3 March 2020 for randomised controlled trials reporting NMR of preterm and/or LBW newborns following any intervention in LMICs. Risk ratios for mortality outcomes were pooled where appropriate using a random effects model (PROSPERO registration number: CRD42019139267).Results1236 studies were identified, of which 49 were narratively synthesised and 9 contributed to the meta-analysis. The studies included 39 interventions in 21 countries with 46 993 participants. High-quality evidence suggested significant reduction of NMR following antenatal corticosteroids (Pakistan risk ratio (RR) 0.89; 95% CI 0.80 to 0.99|Guatemala 0.74; 0.68 to 0.81), single cord (0.65; 0.50 to 0.86) and skin cleansing with chlorhexidine (0.72; 0.55 to 0.95), early BCG vaccine (0.64; 0.48 to 0.86; I2 0%), community kangaroo mother care (OR 0.73; 0.55 to 0.97; I2 0%) and home-based newborn care (preterm 0.25; 0.14 to 0.48|LBW 0.42; 0.27 to 0.65). No effects on perinatal (essential newborn care 1.02; 0.91 to 1.14|neonatal resuscitation 0.95; 0.84 to 1.07) or 7-day NMR (essential newborn care 1.03; 0.83 to 1.27|neonatal resuscitation 0.92; 0.77 to 1.09) were observed after training birth attendants.ConclusionThe findings of this study encourage the implementation of additional, evidence-based interventions in the current (WHO) guidelines and to be selective in usage of antenatal corticosteroids, to reduce mortality among preterm and LBW neonates in LMICs. Given the global commitment to end all preventable neonatal deaths by 2030, continuous evaluation and improvement of the current guidelines should be a priority on the agenda.

scholarly journals Clinical characteristics, treatment and outcomes of paediatric COVID-19: a systematic review and meta-analysis

2021 ◽  
pp. archdischild-2020-321385
Author(s):  
Omar Irfan ◽  
Fiona Muttalib ◽  
Kun Tang ◽  
Li Jiang ◽  
Zohra S Lassi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Disease Severity ◽  
World Bank ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Severe Disease ◽  
Income Level ◽  
Clinical Findings ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries

ObjectiveCompare paediatric COVID-19 disease characteristics, management and outcomes according to World Bank country income level and disease severity.DesignSystematic review and meta-analysis.SettingBetween 1 December 2019 and 8 January 2021, 3350 articles were identified. Two reviewers conducted study screening, data abstraction and quality assessment independently and in duplicate. Observational studies describing laboratory-confirmed paediatric (0–19 years old) COVID-19 were considered for inclusion.Main outcomes and measuresThe pooled proportions of clinical findings, treatment and outcomes were compared according to World Bank country income level and reported disease severity.Results129 studies were included from 31 countries comprising 10 251 children of which 57.4% were hospitalised. Mean age was 7.0 years (SD 3.6), and 27.1% had a comorbidity. Fever (63.3%) and cough (33.7%) were common. Of 3670 cases, 44.1% had radiographic abnormalities. The majority of cases recovered (88.9%); however, 96 hospitalised children died. Compared with high-income countries, in low-income and middle-income countries, a lower proportion of cases were admitted to intensive care units (ICUs) (9.9% vs 26.0%) yet pooled proportion of deaths among hospitalised children was higher (relative risk 2.14, 95% CI 1.43 to 3.20). Children with severe disease received antimicrobials, inotropes and anti-inflammatory agents more frequently than those with non-severe disease. Subgroup analyses showed that a higher proportion of children with multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C) were admitted to ICU (47.1% vs 22.9%) and a higher proportion of hospitalised children with MIS-C died (4.8% vs 3.6%) compared with the overall sample.ConclusionPaediatric COVID-19 has a favourable prognosis. Further severe disease characterisation in children is needed globally.

scholarly journals Efficacy of zinc as adjunctive pneumonia treatment in children aged 2 to 60 months in low-income and middle-income countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. e000662 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nick Brown ◽  
Antti Juhani Kukka ◽  
Andreas Mårtensson
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Treatment Failure ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Severe Pneumonia ◽  
Risk Of Bias ◽  
Sensitivity Analyses ◽  
Cochrane Library ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries

BackgroundDespite advances in vaccination and case management, pneumonia remains the single largest contributor to early child mortality worldwide. Zinc has immune-enhancing properties, but its role in adjunctive treatment of pneumonia in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) is controversial and research still active.MethodsSystematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials of zinc and placebo in pneumonia in children aged 2 to 60 months in LMICs. Databases included MEDLINE, the Cochrane Library, EMBASE, LILACS, SciELO, the WHO portal, Scopus, Google Scholar and ClinicalTrials.gov. Inclusion criteria included accepted signs of pneumonia and clear measure of outcome. Risk of bias was independently assessed by two authors. ORs with 95% CI were used for calculating the pooled estimate of dichotomous outcomes including treatment failure and mortality. Time to recovery was expressed as HRs. Sensitivity analyses considering risk of bias and subgroup analyses for pneumonia severity were performed.ResultsWe identified 11 trials published between 2004 and 2019 fulfilling the a priori defined criteria, 7 from South Asia and 3 from Africa and 1 from South America. Proportional treatment failure was comparable in both zinc and placebo groups when analysed for all patients (OR 0.95 (95% CI 0.80 to 1.14)) and only for those with severe pneumonia (OR 0.93 (95% CI 0.75 to 1.14)). No difference was seen in mortality between zinc and placebo groups (OR 0.64 (95% CI 0.31 to 1.31)). Time to recovery from severe pneumonia did not differ between the treatment and control groups for patients with severe pneumonia (HR 1.01 (95% CI 0.89 to 1.14)). Removal of four studies with high risk of bias made no difference to the conclusions.ConclusionThere is no evidence that adjunctive zinc treatment improves recovery from pneumonia in children in LMICs.Trial registration numberCRD42019141602.

scholarly journals Contribution of suicide and injuries to pregnancy-related mortality in low-income and middle-income countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis

2014 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
pp. 213-225 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniela C Fuhr ◽  
Clara Calvert ◽  
Carine Ronsmans ◽  
Prabha S Chandra ◽  
Siham Sikander ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Related Mortality

scholarly journals Effects of integrated models of care for diabetes and hypertension in low-income and middle-income countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. e043705
Author(s):  
Anke Rohwer ◽  
Jeannine Uwimana Nicol ◽  
Ingrid Toews ◽  
Taryn Young ◽  
Charlotte M Bavuma ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Usual Care ◽  
Integrated Care ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Models Of Care ◽  
Controlled Trials ◽  
Integrated Models ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries

ObjectivesTo assess the effects of integrated models of care for people with multimorbidity including at least diabetes or hypertension in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) on health and process outcomes.DesignSystematic review.Data sourcesWe searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, LILACS, Africa-Wide, CINAHL and Web of Science up to 12 December 2019.Eligibility criteriaWe included randomised controlled trials (RCTs), non-RCTs, controlled before-and-after studies and interrupted time series (ITS) studies of people with diabetes and/or hypertension plus any other disease, in LMICs; assessing the effects of integrated care.Data extraction and synthesisTwo authors independently screened retrieved records; extracted data and assessed risk of bias. We conducted meta-analysis where possible and assessed certainty of evidence using Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation.ResultsOf 7568 records, we included five studies—two ITS studies and three cluster RCTs. Studies were conducted in South Africa (n=3), Uganda/Kenya (n=1) and India (n=1). Integrated models of care compared with usual care may make little or no difference to mortality (very low certainty), the number of people achieving blood pressure (BP) or diabetes control (very low certainty) and access to care (very low certainty); may increase the number of people who achieve both HIV and BP/diabetes control (very low certainty); and may have a very small effect on achieving HIV control (very low certainty). Interventions to promote integrated delivery of care compared with usual care may make little or no difference to mortality (very low certainty), depression (very low certainty) and quality of life (very low certainty); and may have little or no effect on glycated haemoglobin (low certainty), systolic BP (low certainty) and total cholesterol levels (low certainty).ConclusionsCurrent evidence on the effects of integrated care on health outcomes is very uncertain. Programmes and policies on integrated care must consider context-specific factors related to health systems and populations.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42018099314.

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