scholarly journals Early menarche: A systematic review of its effect on sexual and reproductive health in low- and middle-income countries

PLoS ONE ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. e0178884 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mobolaji Ibitoye ◽  
Cecilia Choi ◽  
Hina Tai ◽  
Grace Lee ◽  
Marni Sommer
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Reproductive Health ◽  
Sexual And Reproductive Health ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Early Menarche ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Low And Middle Income

scholarly journals Effective educational interventions for the promotion of sexual and reproductive health and rights for school-age children in low- and middle-income countries: a systematic review protocol

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Arone Wondwossen Fantaye ◽  
Amos Wung Buh ◽  
Dina Idriss-Wheeler ◽  
Karine Fournier ◽  
Sanni Yaya
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Reproductive Health ◽  
Sexual And Reproductive Health ◽  
Educational Interventions ◽  
School Age Children ◽  
School Age ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
School Aged Children ◽  
Low And Middle Income

Abstract Background Biological changes underlying the sexual and reproductive maturation of school-age children are linked with various sexual and reproductive health and rights risks. SRHR risks are predictors of poor SRHR outcomes, such as poor knowledge of sexually transmitted diseases and early sexual initiation occurring predominantly among school-age children. The aim of this proposed review, therefore, is to identify educational interventions that have proven to be effective in promoting or supporting the sexual and reproductive health and rights of school-aged children in low- and middle-income countries. Methods A systematic review of studies on the strategies promoting the SRHR of school-aged children shall be conducted. Electronic searches will be conducted from January 2000 onwards on the following databases: MEDLINE(R) ALL (Ovid), Embase (Ovid), CINAHL (EBSCOHost), APA PsycInfo (Ovid), ERIC (Ovid), Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (Ovid), Education Source (EBSCOHost), Web of Science (Clarivate Analytics), SciELO Citation Index (Clarivate Analytics), Global Health (Ovid), and Sociological Abstract (Proquest). Studies eligible for inclusion will be randomized control trials (RCTs), non-randomized trials, quasi-experimental studies (e.g., pre-post tests), and observational studies (cross-sectional and cohort studies). Peer-reviewed studies published in English and/or French and involving school-aged children 5–10 years old will be included. The primary outcomes of interest will include knowledge, awareness, or attitudes about SRHR topics. The secondary outcomes of interest will include sexual and reproductive behaviors. Two reviewers will independently screen all citations, abstract data, and full-text articles, and the methodological quality of each study will be appraised using JBI critical appraisal tools. A narrative synthesis of extracted data will be conducted. Discussion The systematic review will synthesize the evidence on existing educational interventions targeting SRHR outcomes of school-aged children in low- and middle-income countries. It will identify which interventions have proven to be effective, and which interventions have not proven to be effective in promoting or supporting their SRHR. Review findings will provide a useful reference for policy-makers, program developers, global health leaders, and decision makers who wish to support the SRHR of school-age children. Systematic review registration The protocol has been registered at the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO CRD42020173158).

scholarly journals From words to actions: systematic review of interventions to promote sexual and reproductive health of persons with disabilities in low- and middle-income countries

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (10) ◽  
pp. e002903
Author(s):  
Shaffa Hameed ◽  
Alexander Maddams ◽  
Hattie Lowe ◽  
Lowri Davies ◽  
Rajat Khosla ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Reproductive Health ◽  
Observational Studies ◽  
Sexual And Reproductive Health ◽  
Risk Of Bias ◽  
Safe Abortion ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Persons With Disabilities ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Low And Middle Income

IntroductionPersons with disabilities have the same sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) as non-disabled persons. Yet they face numerous barriers in their access to sexual and reproductive health services and their rights are often not met. Evidence on SRHR for persons with disabilities is sparse, particularly evaluations of interventions demonstrating ‘what works.’ This systematic review assessed interventions to promote SRHR for persons with disabilities in low- and middle-income countries.MethodsWe searched for qualitative, quantitative or mixed method observational studies representing primary research, published between 2010 and 2019, using MEDLINE, Embase, PubMed, Global Health and CINAHL Plus. Search strings were compiled for different elements of SRHR and for all forms of disability. 24,919 records were screened, leading to over 380 relevant papers, most of which were descriptive, focussing on needs and barriers to SRHR needs being fulfilled. Of the 33 full-text articles assessed for eligibility, 18 were included in the synthesis. All included studies were assessed for bias and quality of evidence, using STROBE (Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology) and RATS (relevance, appropriateness, transparency andsoundness) tools. Among the 16 interventions (from 18 articles), 25% had low risk of bias, 31% had moderate risk of bias and 44% had high risk of bias. Data analysis used narrative synthesis; a method suited for systematic reviews with heterogeneous studies. We used Levesque healthcare access model to analyse the focus of interventions.Results11 interventions were from upper middle-income settings; two from lower-income settings; only one operated in rural areas. Interventions addressed intellectual impairment (6), visual impairment (6), hearing impairment (4), mental health conditions (2) and physical impairments (2). Most interventions (15/16) focus on information provision and awareness raising. We could not identify any intervention promoting access to maternal health, family planning and contraception, or safe abortion for people with disabilities.ConclusionThis systematic review has highlighted stark gaps in evidence. More rigorous evaluations are needed.

scholarly journals Rights based approaches to sexual and reproductive health in low and middle-income countries: A systematic review

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. e0250976
Author(s):  
Majel McGranahan ◽  
Joselyn Nakyeyune ◽  
Christopher Baguma ◽  
Nakibuuka Noor Musisi ◽  
Derrick Nsibirwa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Reproductive Health ◽  
Sexual And Reproductive Health ◽  
Risk Of Bias ◽  
Gender Based Violence ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Sexually Transmitted ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Gender Based ◽  
Low And Middle Income

Introduction The Sustainable Development Goals, which are grounded in human rights, involve empowering women and girls and ensuring that everyone can access sexual and reproductive health and rights (Goal 5). This is the first systematic review reporting interventions involving rights-based approaches for sexual and reproductive health issues including gender-based violence, maternity, HIV and sexually transmitted infections in low and middle-income countries. Aims To describe the evidence on rights-based approaches to sexual and reproductive health in low and middle-income countries. Methods EMBASE, MEDLINE and Web of Science were searched until 9/1/2020. Inclusion criteria were: Study design: any interventional study. Population: females aged over 15 living in low and middle-income countries. Intervention: a “rights-based approach” (defined by the author) and/or interventions that the author explicitly stated related to "rights". Comparator: clusters in which no intervention or fewer components of an intervention were in place, or individuals not exposed to interventions, or exposed to fewer intervention components. Outcome: Sexual and reproductive health related outcomes. A narrative synthesis of included studies was undertaken, and outcomes mapped to identify evidence gaps. The systematic review protocol was registered on PROSPERO (CRD42019158950). Results Database searching identified 17,212 records, and 13,404 studies remained after de-duplication. Twenty-four studies were included after title and abstract, full-text and reference-list screening by two authors independently. Rights-based interventions were effective for some included outcomes, but evidence was of poor quality. Testing uptake for HIV and/or other sexually transmitted infections, condom use, and awareness of rights improved with intervention, but all relevant studies were at high, critical or serious risk of bias. No study included gender-based violence outcomes. Conclusion Considerable risk of bias in all studies means results must be interpreted with caution. High-quality controlled studies are needed urgently in this area.

scholarly journals Interventions in sexual and reproductive health services addressing violence against women in low- and middle- income countries: a mixed-methods systematic review

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Natalia V Lewis ◽  
Muzrif Munas ◽  
Manuela Colombini ◽  
Ana Flavia Oliveira ◽  
Stephanie Pereira ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Cost Effectiveness ◽  
Reproductive Health ◽  
Health Systems ◽  
Violence Against Women ◽  
Sexual And Reproductive Health ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Low And Middle Income

Objectives. To synthesise evidence on the effectiveness, cost-effectiveness, and barriers to responding to violence against women (VAW) in sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Design. Mixed-methods systematic review. Data sources. Medline, Embase, Psycinfo, Cochrane, Cinahl, IMEMR, Web of Science, Popline, Lilacs, WHO RHL, ClinicalTrials.gov, Google, Google Scholar, websites of key organisations through December 2019. Eligibility criteria. Studies of any design that evaluated VAW interventions in SRH services in LMICs. Data extraction and synthesis. Concurrent narrative quantitative and thematic qualitative syntheses, integration through line of argument and mapping onto a logic model. Two reviewers extracted data and appraised quality. Results. 26 studies of varied interventions using heterogeneous outcomes. Of ten interventions that strengthened health systems capacity to respond to VAW during routine SRH consultation, three reported no harm and reduction in some types of violence. Of nine interventions that strengthened health systems and communities capacity to respond to VAW, three reported conflicting effects on re-exposure to some types of VAW and mixed effect on SRH. The interventions increased identification of VAW but had no effect on the provision (75-100%) and uptake (0.6-53%) of referrals to VAW services. Of seven psychosocial interventions in addition to SRH consultation that strengthened women readiness to address VAW, four reduced re-exposure to some types of VAW and improved health. Factors that disrupted the pathway to better outcomes included accepting attitudes towards VAW, fear of consequences, and limited readiness of the society, health systems, and individuals. No study evaluated cost-effectiveness. Conclusions. Some VAW interventions in SRH services reduced re-exposure to some types of VAW and improved some health outcomes in single studies. Future interventions should strengthen capacity to address VAW across health systems, communities, and individual women. First-line support should be better tailored to women needs and expectations. PROSPERO protocol CRD42019137167.

scholarly journals Looking ahead in the COVID-19 pandemic: emerging lessons learned for sexual and reproductive health services in low- and middle-income countries

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Aduragbemi Banke-Thomas ◽  
Sanni Yaya
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Health ◽  
Service Provision ◽  
Sexual And Reproductive Health ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Safe Abortion ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Health Service Provision ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Published Evidence ◽  
Low And Middle Income

AbstractThe COVID-19 pandemic has caused widespread disruption to essential health service provision globally, including in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Recognising the criticality of sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services, we review the actual reported impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on SRH service provision and evidence of adaptations that have been implemented to date. Across LMICs, the available data suggests that there was a reduction in access to SRH services, including family planning (FP) counselling and contraception access, and safe abortion during the early phase of the pandemic, especially when movement restrictions were in place. However, services were quickly restored, or alternatives to service provision (adaptations) were explored in many LMICs. Cases of gender-based violence (GBV) increased, with one in two women reporting that they have or know a woman who has experienced violence since the beginning of the pandemic. As per available evidence, many adaptations that have been implemented to date have been digitised, focused on getting SRH services closer to women. Through the pandemic, several LMIC governments have provided guidelines to support SRH service delivery. In addition, non-governmental organisations working in SRH programming have played significant roles in ensuring SRH services have been sustained by implementing several interventions at different levels of scale and to varying success. Most adaptations have focused on FP, with limited attention placed on GBV. Many adaptations have been implemented based on guidance and best practices and, in many cases, leveraged evidence-based interventions. However, some adaptations appear to have simply been the sensible thing to do. Where evaluations have been carried out, many have highlighted increased outputs and efficiency following the implementation of various adaptations. However, there is limited published evidence on their effectiveness, cost, value for money, acceptability, feasibility, and sustainability. In addition, the pandemic has been viewed as a homogenous event without recognising its troughs and waves or disentangling effects of response measures such as lockdowns from the pandemic itself. As the pandemic continues, neglected SRH services like those targeting GBV need to be urgently scaled up, and those being implemented with any adaptations should be rigorously tested.

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