scholarly journals Prenatal Environmental Metal Exposure and Preterm Birth: A Scoping Review

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 573
Author(s):  
Rasheda Khanam ◽  
Ishaan Kumar ◽  
Opeyemi Oladapo-Shittu ◽  
Claire Twose ◽  
ASMD Ashraful Islam ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Preterm Birth ◽  
Scoping Review ◽  
Epigenetic Modification ◽  
Cochrane Library ◽  
Metal Exposure ◽  
Original Research ◽  
Prenatal Exposures ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Lead And Cadmium ◽  
Low Middle Income Countries

Preterm birth (PTB) and its complications are the leading causes of under-five year old child deaths, accounting worldwide for an estimated one million deaths annually. The etiology of PTB is complex and multifactorial. Exposures to environmental metals or metalloids are pervasive and prenatal exposures to them are considered important in the etiology of PTB. We conducted a scoping review to determine the extent of prenatal exposures to four metals/metalloids (lead, mercury, cadmium and arsenic) and their association with PTB. We reviewed original research studies published in PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, Scopus, POPLINE and the WHO regional indexes from 2000 to 2019; 36 articles were retained for full text review. We documented a higher incidence of PTB with lead and cadmium exposures. The findings for mercury and arsenic exposures were inconclusive. Metal-induced oxidative stress in the placenta, epigenetic modification, inflammation, and endocrine disruptions are the most common pathways through which heavy metals and metalloids affect placental functions leading to PTB. Most of the studies were from the high-income countries, reflecting the need for additional data from low-middle-income countries, where PTB rates are higher and prenatal exposure to metals are likely to be just as high, if not higher.

scholarly journals Exploration of recovery of people living with severe mental illness (SMI) in low/middle-income countries (LMICs): a scoping review

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. e045005
Author(s):  
Fadia Gamieldien ◽  
Roshan Galvaan ◽  
Bronwyn Myers ◽  
Zarina Syed ◽  
Katherine Sorsdahl
Keyword(s):  
Mental Illness ◽  
Severe Mental Illness ◽  
Scoping Review ◽  
Data Extraction ◽  
Flow Diagram ◽  
Personal Recovery ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Provider Perspectives ◽  
Low Middle Income Countries

ObjectiveTo examine the literature on how recovery of people with severe mental illness (SMI) is conceptualised in low/middle-income countries (LMICs), and in particular what factors are thought to facilitate recovery.DesignScoping review.Data sources and eligibilityWe searched 14 electronic databases, hand searched citations and consulted with experts during the period May–December 2019. Eligible studies were independently screened for inclusion and exclusion by two reviewers. Unresolved discrepancies were referred to a third reviewer.Data extraction and synthesisAll bibliographical data and study characteristics were extracted using a data charting form. Selected studies were analysed through a thematic analysis emerging from extracted data.ResultsThe Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses flow diagram offers a summary of the results: 4201 titles, 1530 abstracts and 109 full-text articles were screened. Ten articles were selected for inclusion: two from Turkey, two from India, and one each from China, Swaziland, Indonesia, Egypt, South Africa and Vietnam. Although most studies used qualitative methods, data collection and sampling methods were heterogeneous. One study reported on service provider perspectives while the rest provided perspectives from a combination of service users and caregivers. Three themes emerged from the data analysis. First, studies frame recovery as a personal journey occurring along a continuum. Second, there was an emphasis on social relationships as a facilitator of recovery. Third, spirituality emerged as both a facilitator and an indicator of recovery. These themes were not mutually exclusive and some overlap exists.ConclusionAlthough there were commonalities with how high-income countries describe recovery, we also found differences in conceptualisation. These differences in how recovery was understood reflect the importance of framing the personal recovery concept in relation to local needs and contextual issues found in LMICs. This review highlighted the current sparse evidence base and the need to better understand recovery from SMI in LMICs.

scholarly journals Seroprevalence of SARS CoV-2 infection in Low and Middle-Income Countries and risk classification in the context of rolling out vaccine candidate across these countries : Protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Ackah ◽  
Louise Ameyaw ◽  
Kwadwo Owusu Akuffo ◽  
Cynthia Osei Yeboah ◽  
Nana Esi Wood ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
Vaccine Candidate ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Cochrane Library ◽  
Research Database ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Low Middle Income Countries ◽  
Low And Middle Income

Abstract Background Seroprevalence of SARS Cov-2 provides a good indication of the extent of exposure and spread in the population, as well as those likely to benefit from a vaccine candidate. To date, there is no published or ongoing systematic review on the seroprevalence of COVID-19 in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs). This systematic review and meta-analysis will estimate SARS Cov-2 seroprevalence and the risk factors for SARS Cov-2 infection in LMICs.Methods We will search PubMed, EMBASE, WHO COVID-19 Global research database, Google Scholar, the African Journals Online, LILAC, HINARI, medRxiv, bioRxiv and Cochrane Library for potentially useful studies on seroprevalence of COVID-19 in LMICs from December 2019 to December 2020 without language restriction. Two authors will independently screen all the articles, select studies based on pre-specified eligibility criteria and extract data using a pre-tested data extraction form. Any disagreements will be resolved through discussion between the authors. The pooled seroprevalence of SARS CoV-2 for people from LMICs will be calculated. Random effects model will be used in case of substantial heterogeneity in the included studies, otherwise fixed-effect model will be used. A planned subgroup, sensitivity and meta-regression analyses will be performed. For comparative studies, the analyses will be performed using Review Manager v 5.4; otherwise, STATA 16 will be used. All effect estimates will be presented with their confidence intervals.Discussion The study will explore and systematically review empirical evidence on SARS Cov-2 seroprevalence in LMICs, and to assess the risk factors for SARS Cov-2 infection in Low Middle Income Countries in the context of rolling out vaccines in these countries. Finally, explore risk classifications to help with the rolling out of vaccines in LMICs.Systematic review registration: The protocol for this review has been registered in PROSPERO (CRD422020221548).

Health Outcomes Among Garment Workers in Low-Middle Income Countries: A Scoping Review

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Syahidatul Khafizah Mohd Hajaraih ◽  
Shelby P. Gordon ◽  
Karen M. Tabb
Keyword(s):  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Scoping Review ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Garment Workers ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Low Middle Income Countries

scholarly journals Long COVID, A Comprehensive Systematic Scoping Review

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hossein Akbarialiabad ◽  
Mohammad Hossein Taghrir ◽  
Ashkan Abdollahi ◽  
Nasrollah Ghahramani ◽  
Manasi Kumar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Acute Phase ◽  
Scoping Review ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Search Strategy ◽  
Renal Involvement ◽  
Signs And Symptoms ◽  
Cochrane Library ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Middle Income

Introduction: Despite more than one year passed since the first cases of SARS-CoV-2 were reported, there is still no consensus on the definition and clinical management of post-acute-COVID-19. The condition has heterogeneously been named as Chronic COVID syndrome, Post COVID-19 Syndrome, post-acute sequela of SARS-CoV-2 (PASC), and the more familiar long COVID. Method: In order to capture all relevant published studies, we undertook a multi-step search with no language restriction. The following four-step search strategy was utilized: First, a preliminary (limited) search was conducted on January 20, 2021, in Google Scholar and PubMed to identify the appropriate keywords. Then, on January 30, 2021, we adopted a search strategy of electronic databases from Cochrane Library, PsycINFO, PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Web of sciences, using those keywords. Then, after duplicate removal, we screened all titles, abstracts, and full texts. This resulted in 66 eligible studies. Subsequently, after a forward and backward search of their references and citations an additional 54 publications were found, resulting in a total of 120 publications that formed the basis of the present analysis. The titles, abstracts, and full-texts of non-English articles were translated using Google Translate for further evaluation. We conducted our scoping review based on the PRISMA-ScR Checklist.Results: We found only one randomized clinical trial in our search. Of the 67 original studies, 22 were cohort and 28 were cross-sectional studies totaling 74.6% of the original studies. Of the total of 120 publications, 59 (49.1%) focused on signs and symptoms, 28 (23.3%) were focused on management, and 13 (10.8%) focused on pathophysiology. Ten (9%) publications focused on imaging studies. Ninety-one percent of the original investigations came from high and upper-middle-income countries, highlighting the scarcity of reports originating from low-income and lower-middle-income countries.Conclusion: The predominant symptoms among those with the so-called “Long COVID” were: fatigue, breathlessness, arthralgia, sleep difficulties, and chest pain. Recent reports also point to the risk of long-term sequela with cutaneous, respiratory, cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, mental health, neurologic, and renal involvement in those who survive the acute phase of the illness. The ambiguity and controversies in its definition have impaired proper recognition and management of those requiring additional support following the resolution of the acute phase of this infection. This has resulted in long-standing distress for the patients and their families. Our findings highlight the need for a multidisciplinary approach, support, and rehabilitation for these patients in terms of long-term mental and physical health.

scholarly journals Inclusion of diabetic retinopathy screening strategies in national-level diabetes care planning in low-income and middle-income settings: protocol for a scoping review

BMJ Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. e038647
Author(s):  
Katie Curran ◽  
Prabhath Piyasena ◽  
Nathan Congdon ◽  
Lisa Duke ◽  
Belma Malanda ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Diabetic Retinopathy ◽  
Scoping Review ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Communicable Disease ◽  
Grey Literature ◽  
National Level ◽  
Service Planning ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Cochrane Library ◽  
Middle Income

IntroductionThe diabetes mellitus (DM) epidemic is a major public health concern globally, with the highest-burden in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a microvascular complication of diabetes, and if left untreated can lead to visual impairment and blindness. Epidemiological studies suggest that the incidence of sight-threatening DR is decreasing in high-income countries due to improved treatments and management of DM; however, these trends are not replicated in LMICs. In this paper, we outline a scoping review protocol that aims to identify which LMICs have included DR in their national DM, non-communicable disease or prevention of blindness plans. The scoping review also aims to assess gaps when implementing national DR screening programmes in LMICs.Methods and analysisThis scoping review will follow the Arksey and O’Malley (2005) methodology and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis extension for Scoping Review guidelines. A comprehensive search of peer-reviewed and grey literature will be conducted from October 1989 (St. Vincent Declaration) to February 2020. Studies will be identified from electronic databases; Medline, Embase and CENTRAL (Cochrane Library). To identify further relevant articles, a hand search will be conducted using the reference lists of included studies. Two reviewers will independently screen records for relevant data and disagreements about eligibility will be resolved through consensus or arbitration by a third reviewer. A quantitative analysis will be performed to highlight key findings and thematic analysis will be used to identify emerging themes and subthemes from included studies. The key themes will highlight countries progress in terms of national-level DR service planning and screening implementation.Ethics and disseminationNo ethical approval is required because the scoping review methodology aims to synthesise information from publicly available resources. The results will be disseminated through conference presentations and peer-reviewed publication.

scholarly journals Reducing neonatal mortality associated with preterm birth: gaps in knowledge of the impact of antenatal corticosteroids on preterm birth outcomes in low-middle income countries

2016 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth M. McClure ◽  
Robert L. Goldenberg ◽  
Alan H. Jobe ◽  
Menachem Miodovnik ◽  
Marion Koso-Thomas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Preterm Birth ◽  
Neonatal Mortality ◽  
Birth Outcomes ◽  
Antenatal Corticosteroids ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Low Middle Income Countries ◽  
The Impact

scholarly journals Implementation of colorectal cancer screening interventions in low-income and middle-income countries: a scoping review protocol

BMJ Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. e037520
Author(s):  
Désirée Schliemann ◽  
Nicholas Matovu ◽  
Kogila Ramanathan ◽  
Paloma Muñoz-Aguirre ◽  
Ciaran O'Neill ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Colorectal Cancer ◽  
Cancer Screening ◽  
Colorectal Cancer Screening ◽  
Scoping Review ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Crc Screening ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Low Middle Income Countries ◽  
Scoping Reviews

IntroductionColorectal cancer (CRC) imposes a significant global burden of disease. CRC survival rates are much lower in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). Screening tends to lead to an improvement in cancer detection and the uptake of available treatments and, in turn, to better chances of cancer survival. Most evidence on CRC screening interventions comes from high-income countries. The objective of this scoping review is to map the available literature on the implementation of CRC screening interventions in LMICs.Methods and analysisWe will conduct a scoping review according to the framework proposed by Arksey and O’Malley (2005). We will search MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science and Google Scholar using a combination of terms such as “colorectal cancer”, “screening” and “low-middle-income countries”. Studies of CRC screening interventions/programmes conducted in the general adult population in LMICs as well as policy reviews (of interventions in LMICs) and commentaries on challenges and opportunities of delivering CRC screening in LMICs, published in the English language before February 2020 will be included in this review. The title and abstract screen will be conducted by one reviewer and two reviewers will screen full-texts and extract data from included papers, independently, into a data charting template that will include criteria from an adapted template for intervention description and replication checklist and implementation considerations. The presentation of the scoping review will be reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis extension for Scoping Reviews guidance.Ethics and disseminationThere are no ethical concerns. The results will be used to inform colorectal screening interventions in LMICs. We will publish the findings in a peer-reviewed journal and present them at relevant conferences.

scholarly journals Machine learning health-related applications in low-income and middle-income countries: a scoping review protocol

BMJ Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. e035983
Author(s):  
Rodrigo M Carrillo-Larco ◽  
Lorainne Tudor Car ◽  
Jonathan Pearson-Stuttard ◽  
Trishan Panch ◽  
J Jaime Miranda ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Machine Learning ◽  
Scoping Review ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Clinical Medicine ◽  
Scientific Publications ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Low Middle Income Countries ◽  
Health Related

IntroductionMachine learning (ML) has been used in bio-medical research, and recently in clinical and public health research. However, much of the available evidence comes from high-income countries, where different health profiles challenge the application of this research to low/middle-income countries (LMICs). It is largely unknown what ML applications are available for LMICs that can support and advance clinical medicine and public health. We aim to address this gap by conducting a scoping review of health-related ML applications in LMICs.Methods and analysisThis scoping review will follow the methodology proposed by Levac et al. The search strategy is informed by recent systematic reviews of ML health-related applications. We will search Embase, Medline and Global Health (through Ovid), Cochrane and Google Scholar; we will present the date of our searches in the final review. Titles and abstracts will be screened by two reviewers independently; selected reports will be studied by two reviewers independently. Reports will be included if they are primary research where data have been analysed, ML techniques have been used on data from LMICs and they aimed to improve health-related outcomes. We will synthesise the information following evidence mapping recommendations.Ethics and disseminationThe review will provide a comprehensive list of health-related ML applications in LMICs. The results will be disseminated through scientific publications. We also plan to launch a website where ML models can be hosted so that researchers, policymakers and the general public can readily access them.

scholarly journals Unravelling ‘low-resource settings’: a systematic scoping review with qualitative content analysis

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (6) ◽  
pp. e005190
Author(s):  
Chanel van Zyl ◽  
Marelise Badenhorst ◽  
Susan Hanekom ◽  
Martin Heine
Keyword(s):  
Content Analysis ◽  
Scoping Review ◽  
Qualitative Content Analysis ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Low Resource Settings ◽  
Low Resource ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Resource Setting ◽  
Low Resource Setting ◽  
Low Middle Income Countries

IntroductionThe effects of healthcare-related inequalities are most evident in low-resource settings. Such settings are often not explicitly defined, and umbrella terms which are easier to operationalise, such as ‘low-to-middle-income countries’ or ‘developing countries’, are often used. Without a deeper understanding of context, such proxies are pregnant with assumptions, insinuate homogeneity that is unsupported and hamper knowledge translation between settings.MethodsA systematic scoping review was undertaken to start unravelling the term ‘low-resource setting’. PubMed, Africa-Wide, Web of Science and Scopus were searched (24 June 2019), dating back ≤5 years, using terms related to ‘low-resource setting’ and ‘rehabilitation’. Rehabilitation was chosen as a methodological vehicle due to its holistic nature (eg, multidisciplinary, relevance across burden of disease, and throughout continuum of care) and expertise within the research team. Qualitative content analysis through an inductive approach was used.ResultsA total of 410 codes were derived from 48 unique articles within the field of rehabilitation, grouped into 63 content categories, and identified nine major themes relating to the term ‘low-resource setting’. Themes that emerged relate to (1) financial pressure, (2) suboptimal healthcare service delivery, (3) underdeveloped infrastructure, (4) paucity of knowledge, (5) research challenges and considerations, (6) restricted social resources, (7) geographical and environmental factors, (8) human resource limitations and (9) the influence of beliefs and practices.ConclusionThe emerging themes may assist with (1) the groundwork needed to unravel ‘low-resource settings’ in health-related research, (2) moving away from assumptive umbrella terms like ‘low-to-middle-income countries’ or ‘low/middle-income countries’ and (3) promoting effective knowledge transfer between settings.

scholarly journals Systematic scoping review protocol of methodologies of chronic respiratory disease surveys in low/middle-income countries

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dhiraj Agarwal ◽  
◽  
Nik Sherina Hanafi ◽  
Soumya Chippagiri ◽  
Evelyn A. Brakema ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Respiratory Disease ◽  
Scoping Review ◽  
Chronic Respiratory Disease ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Low Middle Income Countries ◽  
Disease Surveys ◽  
Review Protocol
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