Systematic review protocol examining sex differences in survival among low birthweight newborns and infants in sub-Saharan Africa
Introduction In sub-Saharan African countries, low birthweight (LBW) accounts for three-quarters of under-five mortality and morbidity. However, there is no systematic evidence of sex differences in LBW survival risk. The aim of this protocol is to outline the methodological process of a systematic...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMJ Publishing Group
2020-06-01
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| Series: | BMJ Open |
| Online Access: | https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/10/6/e036645.full |
| _version_ | 1818910687490998272 |
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| author | Akalewold T Gebremeskel Arone W Fantaye Lena E Faust |
| author_facet | Akalewold T Gebremeskel Arone W Fantaye Lena E Faust |
| author_sort | Akalewold T Gebremeskel |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Introduction In sub-Saharan African countries, low birthweight (LBW) accounts for three-quarters of under-five mortality and morbidity. However, there is no systematic evidence of sex differences in LBW survival risk. The aim of this protocol is to outline the methodological process of a systematic review that will gather qualitative and quantitative data on sex differences in survival among LBW newborns and infants in sub-Saharan Africa.Methods This protocol adheres to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocols reporting guidelines. We will conduct a systematic review to retrieve all qualitative and quantitative studies. Electronic search strategies are being finalised on 24 February 2020 for Ovid Medline and EMBASE, and on 28 February 2020 for CINAHL, Scopus and Global Health in collaboration with a Health Sciences librarian. The primary outcome of interest is indicating sex differences in survival among LBW newborns and infants. Secondary outcomes are sex-disaggregated differences in morbidity among LBW newborns and infants. Screening, data extraction and assessments of risk of bias will be performed independently. Narrative synthesis and a meta-analysis will be conducted with studies that are compatible based on population and outcome. The systematic review is focused on the analysis of secondary data and does not require ethics approval.Ethics and dissemination As it will be a systematic review, without human participants’ involvement, there will be no requirement for ethical approval. The systematic review will present key evidence of sex-disaggregated differences in mortality and morbidity among LBW newborns and infants in sub-Saharan Africa. Programme managers, policy-makers and researchers can use the findings to evaluate LBW health outcomes in different sexes. The final manuscript will be disseminated through a peer-reviewed journal and scientific conferences.PROSPERO registration number CRD42020163470 |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-19T22:46:46Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-13a28436a37842c7b04c0990d0026b82 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2044-6055 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-19T22:46:46Z |
| publishDate | 2020-06-01 |
| publisher | BMJ Publishing Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMJ Open |
| spelling | doaj.art-13a28436a37842c7b04c0990d0026b822022-12-21T20:02:55ZengBMJ Publishing GroupBMJ Open2044-60552020-06-0110610.1136/bmjopen-2019-036645Systematic review protocol examining sex differences in survival among low birthweight newborns and infants in sub-Saharan AfricaAkalewold T Gebremeskel0Arone W Fantaye1Lena E Faust2School of International Development and Global Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, CanadaInterdisciplinary School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, CanadaDepartment of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Ontario, CanadaIntroduction In sub-Saharan African countries, low birthweight (LBW) accounts for three-quarters of under-five mortality and morbidity. However, there is no systematic evidence of sex differences in LBW survival risk. The aim of this protocol is to outline the methodological process of a systematic review that will gather qualitative and quantitative data on sex differences in survival among LBW newborns and infants in sub-Saharan Africa.Methods This protocol adheres to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocols reporting guidelines. We will conduct a systematic review to retrieve all qualitative and quantitative studies. Electronic search strategies are being finalised on 24 February 2020 for Ovid Medline and EMBASE, and on 28 February 2020 for CINAHL, Scopus and Global Health in collaboration with a Health Sciences librarian. The primary outcome of interest is indicating sex differences in survival among LBW newborns and infants. Secondary outcomes are sex-disaggregated differences in morbidity among LBW newborns and infants. Screening, data extraction and assessments of risk of bias will be performed independently. Narrative synthesis and a meta-analysis will be conducted with studies that are compatible based on population and outcome. The systematic review is focused on the analysis of secondary data and does not require ethics approval.Ethics and dissemination As it will be a systematic review, without human participants’ involvement, there will be no requirement for ethical approval. The systematic review will present key evidence of sex-disaggregated differences in mortality and morbidity among LBW newborns and infants in sub-Saharan Africa. Programme managers, policy-makers and researchers can use the findings to evaluate LBW health outcomes in different sexes. The final manuscript will be disseminated through a peer-reviewed journal and scientific conferences.PROSPERO registration number CRD42020163470https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/10/6/e036645.full |
| spellingShingle | Akalewold T Gebremeskel Arone W Fantaye Lena E Faust Systematic review protocol examining sex differences in survival among low birthweight newborns and infants in sub-Saharan Africa BMJ Open |
| title | Systematic review protocol examining sex differences in survival among low birthweight newborns and infants in sub-Saharan Africa |
| title_full | Systematic review protocol examining sex differences in survival among low birthweight newborns and infants in sub-Saharan Africa |
| title_fullStr | Systematic review protocol examining sex differences in survival among low birthweight newborns and infants in sub-Saharan Africa |
| title_full_unstemmed | Systematic review protocol examining sex differences in survival among low birthweight newborns and infants in sub-Saharan Africa |
| title_short | Systematic review protocol examining sex differences in survival among low birthweight newborns and infants in sub-Saharan Africa |
| title_sort | systematic review protocol examining sex differences in survival among low birthweight newborns and infants in sub saharan africa |
| url | https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/10/6/e036645.full |
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