Protocol for a scoping review of research on abortion in sub-Saharan Africa

Introduction Unsafe abortion is a leading cause of maternal mortality, and access to safe abortion services remains a public health priority in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). A considerable amount of abortion research exists in the region; however, the spread of existing evidence is uneven such that some countries have an acute shortage of data with others over-researched. The imbalance reflects the complexities in prioritization among researchers, academics, and funders, and undeniably impedes effective policy and advocacy efforts. This scoping review aims to identify and map the landscape of abortion research in SSA, summarize existing knowledge, and pinpoint significant gaps, both substantive and geographic, requiring further investigation. This review will provide direction for future research, investments, and offer guidance for policy and programming on safe abortion. Materials and methods We utilize the Joanna Briggs Institute’s methodology for conducting scoping reviews. We will perform the search for articles in 8 electronic databases (i.e., PubMed, AJOL, Science Direct, SCOPUS, HINARI, Web of Knowledge, CINAHL, and WHO Regional Databases). We will include studies written in English or French language, produced or published between January 1, 2011, and July 31, 2021, and pertain directly to the subject of abortion in SSA. Using a tailored extraction frame, we will extract relevant information from publications that meet the inclusion criteria. Data will be analyzed using descriptive statistics and thematic analysis in response to key review questions. Ethics and dissemination Formal ethical approval is not required, as no primary data will be collected. The findings of this study will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations.

Download Full-text

Mapping adolescent sexual and reproductive health research in sub-Saharan Africa: protocol for a scoping review

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2019-035335 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (7) ◽

pp. e035335

Author(s):

Anthony Idowu Ajayi ◽

Boniface Ayanbekongshie Ushie ◽

Meggie Mwoka ◽

Emmy Kageha Igonya ◽

Ramatou Ouedraogo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Reproductive Health ◽

Scoping Review ◽

Sexual And Reproductive Health ◽

Grey Literature ◽

The Body ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Future Research ◽

Scoping Reviews ◽

Sub Saharan ◽

Full Search

IntroductionPrevious studies have attempted to review the vast body of evidence on adolescent sexual and reproductive health (ASRH), but none has focused on a complete mapping and synthesis of the body of inquiry and evidence on ASRH in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Such a comprehensive scoping is needed, however, to offer direction to policy, programming and future research. We aim to undertake a scoping review of studies on ASRH in SSA to capture the landscape of extant research and findings and identify gaps for future research.Methods and analysisThis protocol is designed using the framework for scoping reviews developed by the Joanna Briggs Institute. We will include English and French language peer-reviewed publications and grey literature on ASRH (aged 10–19) in SSA published between January 2010 and June 2019. A three-step search strategy involving an initial search of three databases to refine the keywords, a full search of all databases and screening of references of previous review studies for relevant articles missing from our full search will be employed. We will search AJOL, JSTOR, HINARI, Scopus, Science Direct, Google Scholar and the websites for the WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA, UNESCO and Guttmacher Institute. Two reviewers will screen the titles, abstracts and full texts of publications for eligibility and inclusion—using Covidence (an online software). We will then extract relevant information from studies that meet the inclusion criteria using a tailored extraction frame and template. Extracted data will be analysed using descriptive statistics and thematic analysis. Results will be presented using tables and charts and summaries of key themes arising from available research findings.Ethics and disseminationEthical approval is not required for a scoping review as it synthesises publicly available publications. Dissemination will be through publication in a peer-review journal and presentation at relevant conferences and convening of policymakers and civil society organisations working on ASRH in SSA.

Download Full-text

Synthesizing evidence on nutrition challenges among people living with HIV/AIDS in sub- Saharan Africa: a protocol for a scoping review

International Journal of Community Medicine and Public Health ◽

10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20192871 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 6 (7) ◽

pp. 3173 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Tafadzwa Dzinamarira ◽

Moreblessing Chipo Mashora

Keyword(s):

Health Outcomes ◽

Scoping Review ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Future Research ◽

People Living With Hiv ◽

Nutritional Management ◽

Sub Saharan ◽

Living With Hiv ◽

Improve Health ◽

Hiv Aids

Background: Good nutritional status is highly significant for individuals who are infected with HIV. However, they still face a number of nutritional challenges. The proposed scoping review will map literature on the nutritional challenges facing people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWH) and guide future research in nutritional management to improve health outcomes for PLWH. Here we outline a scoping review protocol designed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis Protocols (PRISMA-P 2015 Guidelines).Methods: The Arksey and O’Malley’s 2005 scoping methodological framework further improved by Levac et al. 2010 will guide the search and reporting. Searches will be conducted for eligible articles from MEDLINE (PubMed), MEDLINE, CINAHL, Academic Search Complete and ISI Web of Science (Science Citation Index) electronic databases. Two independent reviewers will conduct the search guided by an inclusion and exclusion criteria. Quality appraisal of the included articles will be conducted guided by the mixed methods appraisal tool 2018 version. We will employ NVivo version 12 for thematic content analysis.Conclusions: The findings of this review will guide future research in nutritional management to improve health outcomes for PLWH in sub-Saharan African. This review will be disseminated electronically in a published peer reviewed article and in print.

Download Full-text

Economics of abortion: a scoping review protocol

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2019-029939 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (7) ◽

pp. e029939 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Ernestina Coast ◽

Samantha R Lattof ◽

Yana van der Meulen Rodgers ◽

Brittany Moore

Keyword(s):

Scoping Review ◽

Economic Outcomes ◽

Primary Data ◽

Science Literature ◽

Safe Abortion ◽

Economic Implications ◽

Abortion Care ◽

Scoping Reviews ◽

The Impact ◽

Analytical Approaches

IntroductionAbortion is a common feature of people’s reproductive lives. However, the economic implications of abortion and policies affecting abortion provision are poorly understood. This scoping review aims to systematically review social science literature for studies that have investigated the impact of abortion care (ie, un/safe abortion, post-abortion care) or abortion policies on economic outcomes at the micro-levels (ie, abortion seekers and their households), meso-levels (ie, communities and health systems) and macro-levels (ie, societies and nation states). Informed by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) reporting guideline for protocols, this protocol details the scoping review’s methodological and analytical approaches.Methods and analysisThis scoping review will utilise the PRISMA extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) tool. Studies reporting on qualitative and/or quantitative data from any world region will be considered. For inclusion, studies must examine one of the following economic outcomes at the micro-levels, meso-levels and/or macro-levels: costs, benefits, impacts and/or value of abortion care or abortion policies. Searches will be conducted in eight electronic databases. We will conduct the searches and application of inclusion/exclusion criteria according to the PRISMA-ScR flow approach. No assessments of items’ quality will be made, as the purpose of this scoping review is to synthesise and describe the coverage of the evidence. After extracting all data, we will inductively develop an economic framework around the economics of abortion. The analysis will synthesise the evidence base and identify knowledge gaps on the costs and benefits of abortion to stakeholders at various levels.Ethics and disseminationFormal ethical approval is not required, as primary data will not be collected in this study. The findings of this study will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications, conference presentations, and condensed summaries for key stakeholders and partners in the field.

Download Full-text

Mapping evidence on the distribution of paediatric cancers in sub-Saharan Africa: a scoping review protocol

Systematic Reviews ◽

10.1186/s13643-019-1184-4 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 8 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Sehlisiwe R. Ndlovu ◽

Desmond Kuupiel ◽

Themba G. Ginindza

Keyword(s):

Scoping Review ◽

Low Income ◽

Relevant Literature ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

World Health ◽

Low Income Countries ◽

Future Research ◽

International Agency ◽

Healthcare Needs ◽

Sub Saharan

Abstract Background Paediatric cancers account for a minor fraction of deaths and hence receive little attention from policymakers. In low-income countries, the absence of comprehensive national paediatric strategies results in a lack of access for a majority of children with cancer. In sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), the burden of childhood cancers is underestimated due to a lack of paediatric cancer registries, poor health care systems and competing healthcare needs. The objective of this study is to map evidence on the distribution of paediatric cancers in the SSA region. Method A scoping review will be conducted to map literature on the distribution of paediatric cancers in SSA. An electronic literature search will be conducted from the following databases: PubMed, Google Scholar, EBSCOhost (CINAHL and Health Source) and World Health Organization (WHO)/International Agency for Research in Cancer (IARC) (GLOBOCAN databases). We will also search the reference lists of included studies to source relevant literature. A pilot search was conducted to determine the feasibility of the study. Study selection will be guided by the inclusion and exclusion criteria. After charting the data, a descriptive overview of the studies will be presented in a narrative format. An account of the study characteristics will be described in this narrative. The analysis will be mainly based on mapping the country-specific outcomes emerging from the studies, and a numerical summary of these outcomes will be conducted. Tables, maps and charts will be produced and presented in the result section. Discussion This review study will identify existing research gaps for future research to influence policy implementation and to improve the availability of diagnosis and treatment of paediatric cancers in SSA.

Download Full-text

Use of the Safewards Model in healthcare services: a mixed-method scoping review protocol

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2020-039109 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (12) ◽

pp. e039109

Author(s):

Marie Gerdtz ◽

Catherine Daniel ◽

Rebecca Jarden ◽

Suzanne Kapp

Keyword(s):

Systematic Reviews ◽

Scoping Review ◽

Mixed Method ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Healthcare Services ◽

Future Research ◽

Mixed Method Research ◽

Scoping Reviews ◽

Ethical Approval ◽

Safety Considerations

IntroductionSafewards is an organisational approach to delivering inpatient mental health services. The aim of Safewards is to minimise the number of situations in which conflict arises between healthcare workers and patients that lead to the use of coercive interventions (restriction and/or containment).The Safewards Model has been developed, implemented and evaluated for its impact on all forms of containment. Safewards has been adopted as the recommended approach to preventing patient agitation and clinical aggression in some jurisdictions. Notwithstanding these recommendations, the outcomes of Safewards for staff and patients have not been comprehensively described.The aim of the scoping review is to describe (1) Safewards interventions; (2) how Safewards interventions have been implemented in healthcare settings; (3) outcome measures used to evaluate the effectiveness of Safewards; (4) barriers and enablers to the uptake and sustainability of Safewards. This review will provide a foundation for further research and/or systematic review of the effectiveness of Safewards.Methods and analysisPeer-reviewed manuscripts of quantitative, qualitative and mixed-method research in English with be included for the period 01 January 2013– December 31st 2020. Electronic databases including Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Cochrane, Embase, Emcare, Joanna Briggs Institute, Medline, Global Health, PsycINFO and Scopus will be searched. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis extension for Scoping Reviews checklist and explanation and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis Protocol will be followed. Publications will be excluded if they do not include the required participants, concept or context. Two reviewers will independently screen all titles and abstracts and full-text studies for inclusion.Ethics and disseminationEthical approval for this review is not required as the information to be collected is publicly available. There are no participants or safety considerations in this review of published literature. Key findings for future research and clinical practice will be disseminated though peer-reviewed publication, stakeholder reporting and conference presentations.

Download Full-text

Arts-based approaches to promoting health in sub-Saharan Africa: a scoping review

BMJ Global Health ◽

10.1136/bmjgh-2019-001987 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 5 (5) ◽

pp. e001987 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Christopher Bunn ◽

Chisomo Kalinga ◽

Otiyela Mtema ◽

Sharifa Abdulla ◽

Angel Dillip ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Health Promotion ◽

Scoping Review ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Future Research ◽

Health Issues ◽

Arts And Humanities ◽

Art Forms ◽

Health Related ◽

Sub Saharan ◽

Hiv Aids

IntroductionArts-based approaches to health promotion have been used widely across sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), particularly in public health responses to HIV/AIDS. Such approaches draw on deep-rooted historical traditions of indigenous groups in combination with imported traditions which emerged from colonial engagement. To date, no review has sought to map the locations, health issues, art forms and methods documented by researchers using arts-based approaches in SSA.MethodsUsing scoping review methodology, 11 databases spanning biomedicine, arts and humanities and social sciences were searched. Researchers screened search results for papers using predefined criteria. Papers included in the review were read and summarised using a standardised proforma. Descriptive statistics were produced to characterise the location of the studies, art forms used or discussed, and the health issues addressed, and to determine how best to summarise the literature identified.ResultsSearches identified a total of 59 794 records, which reduced to 119 after screening. We identified literature representing 30 (62.5%) of the 48 countries in the SSA region. The papers covered 16 health issues. The majority (84.9%) focused on HIV/AIDS-related work, with Ebola (5.0%) and malaria (3.3%) also receiving attention. Most studies used a single art form (79.0%), but a significant number deployed multiple forms (21.0%). Theatre-based approaches were most common (43.7%), followed by music and song (22.6%), visual arts (other) (9.2%), storytelling (7.6%) and film (5.0%).ConclusionsArts-based approaches have been widely deployed in health promotion in SSA, particularly in response to HIV/AIDS. Historically and as evidenced by this review, arts-based approaches have provided a platform to facilitate enquiry, achieved significant reach and in some instances supported demonstrable health-related change. Challenges relating to content, power relations and evaluation have been reported. Future research should focus on broadening application to other conditions, such as non-communicable diseases, and on addressing challenges raised in research to date.

Download Full-text

Availability of Standard Operating Guidelines for Primary Healthcare Facilities in Sub-saharan Africa: A Scoping Review Protocol

10.21203/rs.3.rs-128292/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Nelly Sharpley ◽

Desmond Kuupiel ◽

Jacqueline Marina van Wyk

Keyword(s):

Patient Care ◽

Scoping Review ◽

Primary Healthcare ◽

Service Provision ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Quality Monitoring ◽

Future Research ◽

Standard Operating ◽

Operational Management ◽

Sub Saharan

Abstract Background: Primary healthcare (PHC) clinics play an essential role in the delivery of community-based health services, particularly in resource-limited settings. However, there is little systematic documentation on the availability of standard operating guidelines governing their operation or evaluating the services provided by PHC facilities. This study, therefore, will aim to systematically map literature and describe the evidence on the availability of standard operating guidelines or procedures for PHC facilities in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA).Methods: This scoping review study will be conducted inline with the Arksey and O'Malley's framework. PubMed, EBSCOhost (Academic search complete, CINAHL with full text, and Health Sources), Scopus, and Google Scholar will be searched from 2010 to 2020 for relevant evidence sources using a search strategy comprising of keywords, Boolean terms, and medical subject headings. This study will include evidence sources/studies written/published in English that focused standard on standard operating guidelines for staffing and operational management, patient care and service provision, and quality monitoring procedures to assess the functioning of PHC facilities in SSA. The screening of the evidence sources/studies at all the stages and the data extraction will be conducted independently by two reviewers. Thematic analysis will be carried out to identify the themes and sub-themes and the findings relating to this study's research question summarised and reported for each theme narratively. Discussion: This scoping review anticipates to highlight standard operating guidelines available for staffing and operational management, patient care and service provision, and quality monitoring procedures to assess the functioning of PHC facilities to inform the development of relevant standard operating guidelines to improve healthcare services at the primary level. This study also anticipates revealing literature gaps for future research to ensure the attainment of universal health coverage by 2030.

Download Full-text

Mapping evidence on management of cervical cancer in sub-Saharan Africa: scoping review protocol

Systematic Reviews ◽

10.1186/s13643-021-01740-3 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Petmore Zibako ◽

Mbuzeleni Hlongwa ◽

Nomsa Tsikai ◽

Sarah Manyame ◽

Themba G. Ginindza

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Cervical Cancer ◽

Scoping Review ◽

Low Income ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Low Income Countries ◽

Attitudes And Practices ◽

Cancer Management ◽

Scoping Reviews ◽

Sub Saharan

Abstract Background Cancer is a non-communicable disease and is the number 2 leading cause of death globally. Among all cancers, cervical cancer is the number 1 killer of women in low-income countries (LICs). Cervical cancer is a well understood preventable cancer. The rates of cervical cancer are very varied and inversely proportional to the effectiveness of disease management policies. Management of cervical cancer includes prevention, screening, diagnosis and treatment. The main objective of this scoping review is to map the evidence on cervical cancer management in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) to understand the coverage of cervical cancer prevention and treatment services and provide an opportunity to generate knowledge on the risk factors, attitudes and practices extendable globally. Methods and analysis This review will be guided by Arksey and O’Malley’s framework recommended for conducting scoping review studies. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-Scr) checklist will also be completed to ensure that the review adheres to the sound methodological rigour acceptable for scoping review studies. The following electronic databases will be searched for potentially eligible articles: PubMed, Ebsco Host, Scopus and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. Study screening procedures recommended by Higgins and Deeks will be followed. A narrative synthesis will be used, with data synthesised and interpreted using sifting, charting and sorting based on themes and key issues. Discussion Cervical cancer can become a disease of the past with a proper control strategy in place. It is therefore imperative to map available evidence on the management of cervical cancer to inform policy and advocacy action. More knowledge on the status quo will guide policymakers in ensuring cancer management guiding policies are formulated/updated/revised accordingly. Systematic review registration Not registered with PROSPERO (not needed). Protocol and registration This scoping review was not registered.

Download Full-text

Mapping evidence on the burden and distribution of childhood obesity in sub-Saharan Africa: a scoping review protocol

Systematic Reviews ◽

10.1186/s13643-019-1189-z ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 8 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Frederick I. Danquah ◽

Matilda Yeboah ◽

Vitalis Bawontuo ◽

Desmond Kuupiel

Keyword(s):

Childhood Obesity ◽

Scoping Review ◽

Data Extraction ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Research Direction ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Future Research ◽

Adverse Health Outcomes ◽

Unpublished Studies ◽

Sub Saharan

Abstract Background Obesity in childhood is associated with adverse health outcomes and complications throughout the life-span of a child. Available evidence suggests a dramatic increase in childhood obesity in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) over the past two decades. The health risks associated with obesity/overweight are particularly problematic in children due to the potential for long-term health concerns. The researchers propose to conduct a systematic scoping review to map evidence on the burden and distribution of childhood obesity in SSA. Methods The study will be guided by the scoping review framework proposed by Arksey and O’Malley. A comprehensive literature search will be performed in the following electronic databases: PubMed, Web of Science, African Index Medicus, and CINAHL with full text via EBSCOhost platform. Primary studies both published in peer-reviewed journals and gray literature such as unpublished studies, thesis, and studies in press addressing the research topic will be included. One reviewer will conduct title screening, and the results will be exported to Mendeley Desktop library. Two independent reviewers will perform both abstract and full article screening in parallel as well as data extraction from eligible studies. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis: Extension for Scoping Review (PRISMA-ScR) will be utilized to present the study findings of the proposed scoping review. NVivo version 11.0 will be used to extract the relevant outcomes from the included studies, a content thematic analysis performed, and the results reported using a narrative approach. The Mixed Method Quality Appraisal Tool Version 2018 will be used to assess the methodological quality of all included studies. Discussion We anticipate that the proposed study will contribute to the existing body of knowledge on childhood obesity, identify gaps in knowledge on the topic, inform future research direction, and provide evidence-based information to strengthen health systems and policies on childhood obesity towards achieving the WHO global target of halting the rise in obesity by 2025.

Download Full-text

Mapping Evidence on Management of Cervical Cancer in Sub-Saharan Africa: Scoping Review Protocol

10.21203/rs.3.rs-23265/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Petmore Zibako ◽

Mbuzeleni Hlongwa ◽

Nomsa Tsikai ◽

Sarah Manyame ◽

Themba G Ginindza

Keyword(s):

Cervical Cancer ◽

Scoping Review ◽

Low Income ◽

Communicable Disease ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Low Income Countries ◽

Attitudes And Practices ◽

Cancer Management ◽

Scoping Reviews ◽

Sub Saharan

Abstract BackgroundCancer is a non-communicable disease, and is the number two leading cause of death globally. Among all cancers, cervical cancer is the number one killer of women in Low-Income countries (LICs). Cervical cancer is a well understood preventable cancer. The rates of cervical cancer are very varied and inversely proportional to effectiveness of disease management policies. Management of cervical cancer includes: prevention, screening, diagnosis and treatment. The main objective of this scoping review is to map evidence on cervical cancer management in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) to understand the coverage of cervical cancer prevention and treatment services and provide an opportunity to generate knowledge on risk factors, attitudes and practices extendable globally.Methods and analysisThis review will be guided by Arksey and O’Malley’s framework recommended for conducting scoping review studies. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-Scr) checklist will also be completed to ensure that the review adheres to sound methodological rigour acceptable for scoping review studies. The following electronic databases will be search for potentially eligible articles: PubMed, Ebsco Host, Scopus and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. Study screening procedures recommended by Higgins and Deeks will be followed.DiscussionCervical cancer can become a disease of the past with a proper control strategy in place. It is therefore imperative to map available evidence on management of cervical cancer to inform policy and advocacy action. More knowledge on the status quo will guide policy makers in ensuring cancer management guiding policies are formulated/updated/ revised accordingly.Scoping review registration: Not registered with PROSPERO (not needed).Protocol and registration: This scoping review was not registered.

Download Full-text