scholarly journals Antimicrobial stewardship interventions in least developed and low-income countries: a systematic review protocol

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. e047312
Author(s):  
Grace Wezi Mzumara ◽  
Michael Mambiya ◽  
Pui-Ying Iroh Tam
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Antimicrobial Stewardship ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Quality Criteria ◽  
Low Income Countries ◽  
Development Assistance Committee ◽  
Low Resource Settings ◽  
Low Resource ◽  
Hospitalised Patients

IntroductionAntimicrobial resistance (AMR) is increasing in low resource settings. It complicates the management of infectious diseases and is an increasing cause of death. This is due to, among other things, lack of health resources for appropriate diagnosis and unregulated access to antimicrobials in the public sphere. Developing context-specific interventions that enable judicious use of antimicrobials is important to curb this problem.MethodsWe will conduct a systematic review of antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) approaches in Development Assistance Committee in least developed and low-income countries. The inclusion criteria are antimicrobial stewardship interventions in hospitalised patients of all age groups and exclusion criteria are community-based trials and studies that solely focus on viral, fungal or parasite infections. Antimicrobial stewardship interventions will be classified as structural, enabling, persuasive, restrictive or combined. Outcomes of included studies will be classified as clinical, microbiological or behavioural outcomes. The studies to be included will be randomised controlled trials, controlled before–after studies, interrupted time series trials, cohort and qualitative studies. Data will be extracted using forms adapted from the Cochrane collaboration data collection form. This systematic review will be conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines and risk of bias will be done according to the Integrated quality Criteria for Review of Multiple Study Designs.Ethics and disseminationOur findings will be presented to clinicians and policymakers, to support developing AMS protocols for low resource settings. We will publish our results in peer-reviewed journals.Trial registration numberCRD42020210634.

Respiratory illness

2019 ◽  
pp. 631-646
Author(s):  
Aditya Nadimpalli ◽  
Philippa Boulle
Keyword(s):  
Cause Of Death ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Chronic Conditions ◽  
Respiratory Illness ◽  
Low Income Countries ◽  
Respiratory Illnesses ◽  
Low Resource Settings ◽  
Low Resource ◽  
Clinical Conditions ◽  
Respiratory Conditions

This chapter outlines the spectrum of respiratory illnesses seen in humanitarian and low-resource settings, including acute and chronic conditions, and presentations not commonly seen in more developed settings. The chapter focuses on respiratory conditions, which in humanitarian settings are the cause of death in low-income countries and precarious contexts. It details the challenges of diagnosis and treating respiratory pathologies in low-resource settings, including specific guidance for the most commonly encountered clinical conditions such as pneumonia, bronchiolitis, asthma, and pertussis.

scholarly journals Staged implementation of a two-tiered hospital-based neonatal care package in a resource-limited setting in Eastern Uganda

2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. e000586 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathy Burgoine ◽  
Juliet Ikiror ◽  
Sylivia Akol ◽  
Margaret Kakai ◽  
Sara Talyewoya ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Neonatal Mortality ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Neonatal Care ◽  
Health Facilities ◽  
Low Income Countries ◽  
Low Resource Settings ◽  
Low Resource ◽  
Care Package ◽  
Eastern Uganda

Neonatal mortality remains a major global challenge. Most neonatal deaths occur in low-income countries, but it is estimated that over two-thirds of these deaths could be prevented if achievable interventions are scaled up. To date, initiatives have focused on community and obstetric interventions, and there has been limited simultaneous drive to improve neonatal care in the health facilities where the sick neonates are being referred. Few data exist on the process of implementing of neonatal care packages and their impact. Evidence-based guidelines for neonatal care in health facilities in low-resource settings and direction on how to achieve these standards of neonatal care are therefore urgently needed. We used the WHO-Recommended Quality of Care Framework to build a strategy for quality improvement of neonatal care in a busy government hospital in Eastern Uganda. Twelve key interventions were designed to improve infrastructure, equipment, protocols and training to provide two levels of neonatal care. We implemented this low-cost, hospital-based neonatal care package over an 18-month period. This data-driven analysis paper illustrates how simple changes in practice, provision of basic equipment and protocols, ongoing training and dedicated neonatal staff can reduce neonatal mortality substantially even without specialist equipment. Neonatal mortality decreased from 48% to 40% (P=0.25) after level 1 care was implemented and dropped further to 21% (P<0.01) with level 2 care. In our experience, a dramatic impact on neonatal mortality can be made through modest and cost-effective interventions. We recommend that stakeholders seeking to improve neonatal care in low-resource settings adopt a similar approach.

scholarly journals Oxygen systems strengthening as an intervention to prevent childhood deaths due to pneumonia in low-resource settings: systematic review, meta-analysis and cost-effectiveness

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (12) ◽  
pp. e007468
Author(s):  
Felix Lam ◽  
Angela Stegmuller ◽  
Victoria B Chou ◽  
Hamish R Graham
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Cost Effectiveness ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Risk Of Bias ◽  
Effect Estimate ◽  
Low Resource Settings ◽  
Low Resource ◽  
Mesh Terms ◽  
The Impact

ObjectivesIncreasing access to oxygen services may improve outcomes among children with pneumonia living in low-resource settings. We conducted a systematic review to estimate the impact and cost-effectiveness of strengthening oxygen services in low-income and middle-income countries with the objective of including oxygen as an intervention in the Lives Saved Tool.DesignWe searched EMBASE and PubMed on 31 March 2021 using keywords and MeSH terms related to ‘oxygen’, ‘pneumonia’ and ‘child’ without restrictions on language or date. The risk of bias was assessed for all included studies using the quality assessment tool for quantitative studies, and we assessed the overall certainty of the evidence using Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations. Meta-analysis methods using random effects with inverse-variance weights was used to calculate a pooled OR and 95% CIs. Programme cost data were extracted from full study reports and correspondence with study authors, and we estimated cost-effectiveness in US dollar per disability-adjusted life-year (DALY) averted.ResultsOur search identified 665 studies. Four studies were included in the review involving 75 hospitals and 34 485 study participants. We calculated a pooled OR of 0.52 (95% CI 0.39 to 0.70) in favour of oxygen systems reducing childhood pneumonia mortality. The median cost-effectiveness of oxygen systems strengthening was $US62 per DALY averted (range: US$44–US$225). We graded the risk of bias as moderate and the overall certainty of the evidence as low due to the non-randomised design of the studies.ConclusionOur findings suggest that strengthening oxygen systems is likely to reduce hospital-based pneumonia mortality and may be cost-effective in low-resource settings. Additional implementation trials using more rigorous designs are needed to strengthen the certainty in the effect estimate.

A commentary on “Economic impact of surgery on households and individuals in low income countries: A systematic review” (Int J Surg 2021; 90: 105956)

2021 ◽  
pp. 105991
Author(s):  
Michael Gregorio Ortega-Sierra ◽  
María del Carmen Castillo-Montalvo ◽  
Jesús Alberto Manotas-Berdugo ◽  
Jonhatan Guillermo Jiménez-Chimá ◽  
Maria Paz Bolaño-Romero
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Economic Impact ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Low Income Countries

scholarly journals Digitally-enabled approach to improving primary care in a rural and remote low-resource setting

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
L Ansell
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Public Sector ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Digital Health ◽  
Health Priorities ◽  
Rural And Remote ◽  
Low Resource Settings ◽  
Digital Platform ◽  
Low Resource ◽  
Out Of Pocket Payments

Abstract Introduction An innovative digitally-supported multi-sectoral solution for supporting end-to-end primary care for rural and remote low-income populations in Western Visayas, Philippines was examined to determine its efficacy in supporting health access. This solution brings together multisectoral stakeholders using a digital platform to coordinate the provision of a virtual primary care system. The solution also supports ordering and delivery of low-cost insurance and medicines, with the aim of reducing out-of-pocket payments and complementing public-sector services. Methods Processes and outputs for a novel data-driven digital health solution were documented and analyzed through a mixed methods approach. Researchers conducted interviews with a range of stakeholders, including program beneficiaries and partners. Quantitative data focusing on the project outputs were also examined. Results Through an integrated digital platform to coordinate inputs from the public sector (Department of Health); private sector (pharmaceutical, insurance, and telecom firms); and community (in the form of a peer-worker network), this model offers an example of an innovative approach to primary health delivery in low-resource settings. These inputs are leveraged and informed by a 'big-data' precision approach, based on detailed epidemiological profiles of community residents. This dataset allows for the evidence-based identification of village-specific health priorities and development of corresponding interventions. This approach has contributed to increased access to medicines; affordability of medicines and health services; and community resilience among the target populations. However, barriers involving a local shortage of health human resources and cumbersome eHealth regulations affect program impact. Conclusions This research provides evidence for the scale-up of a multisectoral digital approach to support the implementation of UHC targets in Philippines. Key messages Implementing digital health solutions in low-resource settings is possible. Changes are needed in Philippines health regulations for digital health to properly support UHC implementation.

scholarly journals A Systematic Review of Neurosurgical Care in Low-Income Countries

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. 100068
Author(s):  
Hannah K. Weiss ◽  
Roxanna M. Garcia ◽  
Jesutofunmi A. Omiye ◽  
Dominique Vervoort ◽  
Robert Riestenberg ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Low Income Countries

scholarly journals Challenges of Virtual Medical Sciences Education during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Review

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Farhad Salari ◽  
Vida Sepahi
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Medical Education ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Virtual Education ◽  
Low Income Countries ◽  
Medical Sciences ◽  
Study Selection ◽  
E Learning ◽  
Multiple Challenges ◽  
Sudden Transition

Context: Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, there have been numerous higher education challenges. Medical universities have been urged to dispel students from educational and clinical settings and led them toward virtual education. This sudden transition has been accompanied by multiple challenges. Objectives: The present study aimed to evaluate the challenges of virtual medical education in the COVID-19 pandemic. Study Selection: This systematic review was performed by reviewing the current literature on the research subject and the studies conducted in this regard during March 2019 to April 2021 by searching via five key search engines and databases, including Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, PubMed, Scopus, and ERIC. Results: In total, 23 studies were assessed, and different virtual education challenges in medical universities were classified into three categories of structural challenges, student-related challenges, and teacher-related challenges. In addition, strategies were proposed for overcoming the identified challenges. Conclusions: Since medical education was not properly pursued before the COVID-19 pandemic and the necessary infrastructures are lacking in this area, designing and implementing such programs could bring about fundamental challenges in several countries (especially developing and low-income countries), thereby decreasing their success rate. On the other hand, the coronavirus crisis could be an opportunity to identify the weaknesses, shortcomings, and infrastructural deficiencies in e-learning and address these issues effectively.

scholarly journals International barriers and facilitators for cervical cancer screening among young people: a systematic review

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abirami Kirubarajan ◽  
Shannon Leung ◽  
Xinglin Li ◽  
Matthew Yau ◽  
Mara Sobel
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Cervical Cancer ◽  
Cancer Screening ◽  
Young People ◽  
Cervical Cancer Screening ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
Barriers And Facilitators ◽  
Low Income Countries ◽  
Age Group

Background Though cervical cancer is one of the leading causes of death globally, its incidence is nearly entirely preventable. Young people have been an international priority for screening. However, in both high-income and low-income countries, young people have not been screened appropriately according to country-specific guidelines and in many countries, screening rates for this age-group have even dropped. Objectives The aim of this systematic review was to systematically characterize the existing literature on barriers and facilitators for cervical cancer screening among young people globally. Search Strategy We conducted a systematic review following PRISMA guidelines of four databases: Medline-OVID, EMBASE, CINAHL, and ClinicalTrials.Gov. Selection Criteria We only examined original, peer-reviewed literature. Databases were examined from inception until the date of our literature searches (12/03/2020). Articles were excluded if they did not specifically discuss cervical cancer screening, were not specific to young people, or did not report outcomes or evaluation. Data Collection and Analysis All screening and extraction was completed in duplicate with two independent reviewers. Main Results Of the 2177 original database citations, we included 36 studies that met inclusion criteria. Our systematic review found that there are three large categories of barriers for young people: lack of knowledge/awareness, negative perceptions of the test, and practical barriers to testing. Facilitators included stronger relationships with healthcare providers, social norms, support from family, and self-efficacy. Conclusions Health systems worldwide should address the barriers and facilitators to increase cervical cancer screening rates in young people. Further research is required to understand this age group.

scholarly journals Clinical effectiveness of drugs in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 infection: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roberto Ariel Abeldano Zuniga ◽  
Silvia Coca ◽  
Giuliana Abeldano ◽  
Ruth Ana Maria Gonzalez Villoria
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Clinical Improvement ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Randomized Clinical Trials ◽  
Data Extraction ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Clinical Effectiveness ◽  
Hospitalized Patients ◽  
Low Income Countries ◽  
Qualitative Synthesis

Objective. The aim was to assess the clinical effectiveness of drugs used in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 infection. Method. We conducted a systematic review of randomized clinical trials assessing treatment with remdesivir, chloroquine, hydroxychloroquine, lopinavir, ritonavir, dexamethasone, and convalescent plasma, for hospitalized patients with a diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection. The outcomes were mortality, clinical improvement, duration of ventilation, duration of oxygen support, duration of hospitalization), virological clearance, and severe adverse events. Results. A total of 48 studies were retrieved from the databases. Ten articles were finally included in the data extraction and qualitative synthesis of results. The meta-analysis suggests a benefit of dexamethasone versus standard care in the reduction of risk of mortality at day 28; and the clinical improvement at days 14 and 28 in patients treated with remdesivir. Conclusions. Dexamethasone would have a better result in hospitalized patients, especially in low-resources settings. Significance of results. The analysis of the main treatments proposed for hospitalized patients is of vital importance to reduce mortality in low-income countries; since the COVID-19 pandemic had an economic impact worldwide with the loss of jobs and economic decline in countries with scarce resources. Keywords: Drugs; Antivirals; Clinical improvement; Mortality; COVID-19; SARS-CoV2.

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