The Impacts of Coronavirus Disease 2019 Outbreak on Sexual and Reproductive Health Outcomes: Scoping Review Protocol

Abstract Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has rapidly altered the pre-existing landscape for sexual and reproductive health. Adverse sexual and reproductive health outcomes are therefore more likely to be affected due to reports of overwhelmed health systems. However, sexual and reproductive health wellbeing should be prioritized at all times to counteract adverse sexual and reproductive health outcomes. As a result, the proposed review aims at synthesizing evidence on the implications of COVID-19 on sexual and reproductive health outcomes.Methods: An electronic search for literature will be executed to identify peer reviewed and grey literature on the subject. After screening for studies to include in the synthesis, the checklist of the Joanna Briggs Institute, the McMaster Critical Review form and the Authority, Accuracy, Coverage, Objectivity, Date, and Significance (AACODS) will be used for assessment. The study will be conducted in line with the recommendations detailed by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) checklist and a narrative report will be developed.Discussion: Our proposed review aims at identifying the specific implications of COVID-19 on sexual and reproductive health. The review will highlight the systemic challenges and gaps that reinforce the intensity of the impact. It will also identify the aspects of sexual and reproductive health that are much affected among the wide array of components that constitute sexual and reproductive health such as family planning, antenatal care, childbirth, postnatal care among other factors. A better understanding of these issues will help global, regional and national stakeholders and policy makers to identify the specific sexual and reproductive health dimensions that need targeted interventions. Scoping review registration: https://osf.io/85fch

Download Full-text

Necessary but not sufficient: a scoping review of legal accountability for sexual and reproductive health in low-income and middle-income countries

BMJ Global Health ◽

10.1136/bmjgh-2021-006033 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 6 (7) ◽

pp. e006033

Author(s):

Marta Schaaf ◽

Rajat Khosla

Keyword(s):

Reproductive Health ◽

Criminal Law ◽

Scoping Review ◽

Low Income ◽

Sexual And Reproductive Health ◽

Keyword Search ◽

Grey Literature ◽

Effect Change ◽

Legal Accountability ◽

The Impact

BackgroundThis paper is a scoping review of the impact of legal accountability efforts for sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), exploring the links between legal accountability strategies and changes in the desired SRHR outcomes.MethodsWe defined legal accountability as use of the judicial system following state failure to respect, protect or fulfil SRHR as enshrined in national law, as well as individuals’ or the state’s use of criminal law mechanisms to prevent unwanted behaviour and to provide remedy. We undertook a keyword search in PubMed, Scopus and LexisNexis and then consulted a group of experts to provide guidance regarding further peer-reviewed and grey literature, yielding a total of 191 articles.ResultsThe majority of the empirical, peer-reviewed articles identified were regarding abortion law and abortion care availability, followed by violence against women. Most of these articles explore the gaps between law and practice. We identified seven key factors that shape the efficacy of legal accountability efforts, including the ways a law or court decision is formulated, access to courts, the (dis)advantages of criminal law in the given context, cultural norms, politics, state capacity and resources and the potential for further litigation. Many articles explained that use of the judiciary may be necessary to effect change and that the act of claiming rights can empower, but that legal avenues for change can be imperfect tools for justice.ConclusionsLegal accountability can be effective as part of a broader, long-term strategy, with due attention to context.

Download Full-text

Impact of Targeted Treatment on the Prevalence and Intensity of Schistosomiasis in Primary School Children in Africa: A Scoping Review

10.21203/rs.3.rs-33200/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Nathan Chanhanga ◽

Pisirai Ndarukwa ◽

Moses John Chimbari

Keyword(s):

Scoping Review ◽

Primary Schools ◽

Grey Literature ◽

Targeted Treatment ◽

Primary School Children ◽

World Health ◽

Treatment Modalities ◽

Targeted Interventions ◽

Scoping Reviews ◽

The Impact

Abstract BackgroundSchistosomiasis one of the major neglected tropical diseases that cause considerable public health problems in more than 78 tropical and subtropical countries. The disease is most prevalent among children who carry a disproportionately high worm load. Various interventions such as, Mass Drug Administration, snail control, safe water provision and health education on schistosomiasis have been implemented independently or jointly in an effort to control, reduce and ultimately eliminate this parasitic disease. The proposed review willquantify and evaluate the impact of these targeted interventions on the prevalence and intensity of schistosomiasis infection in African primary schools.MethodologyThe Arkseys and O’Malley framework for scoping reviews will be used to conduct the study. We will systematically search for eligible literature from peer-reviewed articles and grey literature. Databases such as Google Scholar, Medline, PubMed and EBSCO host will be searched. In addition, websites like the World Health Organization and government websites will also be searched for articles on the impact of targeted treatment on the prevalence and intensity of schistosomiasis in African primary schools. The scoping review will the conducted on studies that were published from 2000 to 2020. The Population Intervention, Comparison and Outcome (PICO) framework will be implemented to evaluate the eligibility of the research question. The results of the search will be reported utilizing the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) flow diagram. Furthermore, quality assessment for the selected primary studies will be conducted using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT)Version 2018. Discussion We expect to gather research articles on various interventions and treatment modalities that have been implemented to reduce the prevalence and intensity of schistosomiasis infection in African primary schools. This will allow us to quantify and evaluate the overall impact of the targeted treatment to reduce morbidity due to schistosomiasis. Findings from this scoping review will be disseminated in print and electronic to policy makers, researchers and academics through publication in accredited journals and at conferences or congresses.

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

Sexual and Reproductive Health Outcomes among Incarcerated Women in Canada: A Scoping Review

Canadian Journal of Nursing Research ◽

10.1177/0844562120985988 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 084456212098598

Author(s):

Martha Paynter ◽

Clare Heggie ◽

Shelley McKibbon ◽

Ruth Martin-Misener ◽

Adelina Iftene ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Reproductive Health ◽

Health Services ◽

Scoping Review ◽

Sexual And Reproductive Health ◽

Grey Literature ◽

Reproductive Health Services ◽

Transmitted Infection ◽

Sexually Transmitted ◽

Federal Prisons ◽

Scoping Reviews

Background Women are the fastest growing population in Canadian prisons. Incarceration can limit access to essential health services, increase health risks and disrupt treatment and supports. Despite legal requirements to provide care at professionally accepted standards, evidence suggests imprisonment undermines sexual and reproductive health. This scoping review asks, “What is known about the sexual and reproductive health of people incarcerated in prisons for women in Canada?” Methods We use the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology for systematic scoping reviews. Databases searched include MEDLINE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Gender Studies Abstracts, Google Scholar and Proquest Dissertations and grey literature. The search yielded 1424 titles and abstracts of which 15 met the criteria for inclusion. Results Conducted from 1994–2020, in provincial facilities in Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta and Quebec as well as federal prisons, the 15 studies included qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods. The most common outcomes of interest were related to HIV. Other outcomes studied included Papanicolaou (Pap) and sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing, contraception, pregnancy, birth/neonatal outcomes, and sexual assault. Conclusion Incarceration results in lack of access to basic services including contraception and prenatal care. Legal obligations to provide sexual and reproductive health services at professionally acceptable standards appear unmet. Incarceration impedes rights of incarcerated people to sexual and reproductive health.

Download Full-text

The use of digital storytelling of patients’ stories as an approach to translating knowledge: a scoping review

Research Involvement and Engagement ◽

10.1186/s40900-021-00305-x ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 7 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Elly Park ◽

Mary Forhan ◽

C. Allyson Jones

Keyword(s):

Scoping Review ◽

Digital Storytelling ◽

Physical And Mental Health ◽

Media Presentation ◽

Scoping Reviews ◽

Health Related ◽

Multi Media ◽

Meta Analyses ◽

Media Form ◽

The Impact

Abstract Background A growing interest has centered on digital storytelling in health research, described as a multi-media presentation of a story using technology. The use of digital storytelling in knowledge translation (KT) is emerging as technology advances in healthcare to address the challenging tasks of disseminating and transferring knowledge to key stakeholders. We conducted a scoping review of the literature available on the use of patient digital storytelling as a tool in KT interventions. Methods We followed by Arksey and O’Malley (Int J Soc Res Methodol 8(1):19–32, 2005), and Levac et al. (Implement Sci 5(1):69, 2010) recommended steps for scoping reviews. Search strategies were conducted for electronic databases (Medline, CINAHL, Web of Science, ProQuest dissertations and theses global, Clinicaltrials.gov and Psychinfo). The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for scoping reviews (PRISMA-ScR) was used to report the review process. Results Of 4656 citations retrieved, 114 full texts were reviewed, and twenty-one articles included in the review. Included studies were from nine countries and focused on an array of physical and mental health conditions. A broad range of interpretations of digital storytelling and a variety of KT interventions were identified. Digital storytelling was predominately defined as a story in multi-media form, presented as a video, for selective or public viewing and used as educational material for healthcare professionals, patients and families. Conclusion Using digital storytelling as a tool in KT interventions can contribute to shared decision-making in healthcare and increase awareness in patients’ health related experiences. Concerns centered on the accuracy and reliability of some of the information available online and the impact of digital storytelling on knowledge action and implementation.

Download Full-text

Health risks and mitigation strategies from occupational exposure to wildland fire: a scoping review

Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology ◽

10.1186/s12995-021-00328-w ◽

2022 ◽

Vol 17 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Erica Koopmans ◽

Katie Cornish ◽

Trina M. Fyfe ◽

Katherine Bailey ◽

Chelsea A. Pelletier

Keyword(s):

Occupational Exposure ◽

Health Outcomes ◽

Scoping Review ◽

Emotional Health ◽

Wildland Fire ◽

Grey Literature ◽

Mitigation Strategies ◽

Glutamine Supplementation ◽

List Type ◽

The Impact

Abstract Objectives Due to accelerating wildland fire activity, there is mounting urgency to understand, prevent, and mitigate the occupational health impacts associated with wildland fire suppression. The objectives of this review of academic and grey literature were to: Identify the impact of occupational exposure to wildland fires on physical, mental, and emotional health; and Examine the characteristics and effectiveness of prevention, mitigation, or management strategies studied to reduce negative health outcomes associated with occupational exposure to wildland fire. Methods Following established scoping review methods, academic literature as well as government and industry reports were identified by searching seven academic databases and through a targeted grey literature search. 4679 articles were screened using pre-determined eligibility criteria. Data on study characteristics, health outcomes assessed, prevention or mitigation strategies studied, and main findings were extracted from each included document. The results of this scoping review are presented using descriptive tables and a narrative summary to organize key findings. Results The final sample was comprised of 100 articles: 76 research articles and 24 grey literature reports. Grey literature focused on acute injuries and fatalities. Health outcomes reported in academic studies focused on respiratory health (n = 14), mental health (n = 16), and inflammation and oxidative stress (n = 12). The identified studies evaluated short-term outcomes measuring changes across a single shift or wildland fire season. Most research was conducted with wildland firefighters and excluded personnel such as aviation crews, contract crews, and incident management teams. Five articles reported direct study of mitigation strategies, focusing on the potential usage of masks, advanced hygiene protocols to reduce exposure, fluid intake to manage hydration and core temperature, and glutamine supplementation to reduce fatigue. Conclusions While broad in scope, the evidence base linking wildland fire exposure to any one health outcome is limited. The lack of long-term evidence on changes in health status or morbidity is a clear evidence gap and there is a need to prioritize research on the mental and physical health impact of occupational exposure to wildland fire.

Download Full-text

Barriers to the implementation of sexual and reproductive health education programmes in low-income and middle-income countries: a scoping review protocol

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2019-030814 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (10) ◽

pp. e030814

Author(s):

Moreblessing Chipo Mashora ◽

Tafadzwa Dzinamarira ◽

Claude Mambo Muvunyi

Keyword(s):

Health Education ◽

Reproductive Health ◽

Scoping Review ◽

Low Income ◽

Sexual And Reproductive Health ◽

Emotional Health ◽

Grey Literature ◽

Middle Income ◽

Middle Income Countries ◽

Effective Implementation

IntroductionHealth education programmes (HEPs) have been associated with a number of benefits. These include providing individuals with information on matters related to their mental, social, physical as well as emotional health. HEPs also play a major role in preventing diseases and reducing the level of engagement of individuals in risky behaviours. While this is the case, there are barriers to the effective implementation of HEPs, especially in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) where resources are scarce. Available evidence has revealed socioeconomic challenges ranging from literacy issues, discomfort about issues of sexuality, and cultural barriers to financial constraints as key barriers to the implementation of sexual and reproductive health HEPs in LMICs. We will focus on HEPs related to sexual and reproductive health; all age groups will be considered with no restrictions on geographical setting nor model of HEP delivery. This review will map literature on the barriers to the effective implementation of HEPs in LMICs to guide future implementation research.MethodsArksey and O’Malley’s 2005 scoping methodological framework will act as the guide for this review. We will search the following electronic databases: EBSCOhost (Academic search complete, PsycINFO, Health Sources, CINAHL and MEDLINE with full text), Google Scholar, PubMed, SCOPUS, Science Direct and Web of Science. Grey literature from Mount Kenya University theses and dissertations, governments’ as well as international organisations’ reports, such as WHO, and reference lists of included studies will be searched for eligible studies. We will limit our search to publications from 1 January 2000 to 30 September 2019. Using thematic content analysis, we will employ NVivo V.12 to extract the relevant outcomes from the included articles. We will conduct a quality appraisal of the included articles using the mixed methods appraisal tool (MMAT) version 2018.Ethics and disseminationNo ethical approval is needed for the study as it will not include animal nor human participants. The results of the proposed scoping review will be disseminated electronically, in print and through conference presentation as well as at key stakeholder meetings.

Download Full-text

Implementation of health-focused interventions in vulnerable populations: protocol for a scoping review

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2020-036937 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (7) ◽

pp. e036937

Author(s):

Amanda M Midboe ◽

Caroline Gray ◽

Hannah Cheng ◽

Leonore Okwara ◽

Randall C Gale

Keyword(s):

Social Services ◽

Vulnerable Populations ◽

Systematic Reviews ◽

Scoping Review ◽

English Language ◽

Grey Literature ◽

Large Body ◽

Care Continuum ◽

Scoping Reviews ◽

Meta Analyses

IntroductionVulnerable populations face significant challenges in navigating the care continuum, ranging from diagnosis of illness to linkage and retention in healthcare. Understanding how best to move individuals within these vulnerable populations across the care continuum is critical to improving their health. A large body of literature has focused on evaluation of implementation of various health-focused interventions in this population. However, we do not fully understand the unique challenges to implementing healthcare interventions for vulnerable populations. This study aims to examine the literature describing implementation of health service interventions among vulnerable populations to identify how implementations using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research are adapted. Findings from this review will be useful to implementation scientists to identify gaps in evidence and for adapting similar interventions in unique settings.Methods and analysisThis study protocol outlines a scoping review of the peer-reviewed and grey literature, using established approaches delineated in Arksey and O'Malley’s scoping review framework and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews Checklist. Search strategies will be developed and refined by a medical librarian in collaboration with the research team. Searches will be conducted in electronic databases (CINAHL, Cochrane, PsychINFO, PubMed, Social Services Abstracts, Web of Science, Google and Google Scholar) and limited to studies published between 1 August 2009 and 1 June 2020. Additionally, hand searches will be conducted in three relevant journals—Implementation Science, Systematic Reviews and BMJ Open. English-language studies and reports meeting inclusion criteria will be screened independently by two reviewers and the final list will be abstracted and charted in duplicate.Ethics and disseminationThis is a review of the literature; ethics approval is not indicated. We will disseminate findings from this study in peer-reviewed journals as well as presentations to relevant stakeholders and conferences.

Download Full-text

Intensive care units follow-up: a scoping review protocol

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2020-037725 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (11) ◽

pp. e037725

Author(s):

Danielle Prevedello ◽

Marco Fiore ◽

Jacques Creteur ◽

J C Preiser

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Intensive Care ◽

Scoping Review ◽

Grey Literature ◽

Icu Discharge ◽

Scoping Reviews ◽

The Impact

IntroductionIncreasing numbers of patients are surviving critical illness, leading to growing concern about the potential impact of the long-term consequences of intensive care on patients, families and society as a whole. These long-term effects are together known as postintensive care syndrome and their presence can be evaluated at intensive care unit (ICU) follow-up consultations. However, the services provided by these consultations vary across hospitals and units, in part because there is no validated standard model to evaluate patients and their quality of life after ICU discharge. We describe a protocol for a scoping review focusing on models of ICU follow-up and the impact of such strategies on improving patient quality of life.Methods and analysisIn this scoping review, we will search the literature systematically using electronic databases (MEDLINE - from database inception to June 15th 2020) and a grey literature search. We will involve stakeholders as recommended by the Joanna Briggs Institute approach developed by Peters et al. The research will be conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews guidelines.Ethics and disseminationThis study does not require ethics approval, because data will be obtained through a review of published primary studies. The results of our evaluation will be published in a peer-reviewed journal and will also be disseminated through presentations at national and international conferences.

Download Full-text

Menstrual experience of adolescents in the USA: protocol for a scoping review

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2020-040511 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (2) ◽

pp. e040511

Author(s):

Ronke Olowojesiku ◽

Deborah J Shim ◽

Bryanna Moppins ◽

Daye Park ◽

Jasmine O Patterson ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Social Services ◽

Scoping Review ◽

Low Income ◽

Research Team ◽

Grey Literature ◽

The Body ◽

Primary Study ◽

Scoping Reviews ◽

The Usa ◽

The Impact

IntroductionIn recent years, there has been a growing desire to address issues related to menstruation, particularly for adolescent girls. In low-income and middle-income countries, prior literature review of the adolescent menstrual experience suggests the need for further research into the impact and efficacy of interventions with this population. There is evidence to suggest the need for initiatives and research in higher-income countries like the USA. To date, the body of research on adolescent menstrual experience in the USA remains uncharacterised. Therefore, we propose a scoping review of the literature on this subject to better inform on areas for future primary study.Methods and analysesUsing the framework proposed by Arksey and O’Malley and expounded on by Levac et al and the Joanna Briggs Institute, we will search electronic databases (MEDLINE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Web of Science, ProQuest Public Health Database, Social Science Citation Index, Social Services Abstracts and SocINDEX) and grey literature for relevant studies in consultation with experienced librarians. The abstracts and full-text from each reference will be screened by two independent reviewers for inclusion. Bibliographic data, study characteristics and themes will be extracted from studies selected for inclusion using a rubric created by the research team. Findings will be summarised and a list of subject areas for future primary research will be generated in consultation with stakeholders. The review will be conducted using the Preferred Reporting Items from Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews guidelines.Ethics and disseminationFormal ethics training for this study is not required, as the research team will review publicly available studies. Stakeholders working in adolescent and menstrual health were consulted in designing this review. We will share key findings with stakeholders and in scholarly journals at the conclusion of the review.

Download Full-text