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Background: The emergence of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has brought an unprecedented burden on health systems and personnel globally. This pandemic potentially can result in increased frequency of stress and burnout experienced among healthcare workers (HCWs), especially in lower-and-middle-income countries with inadequate health professionals, yet little is known about their experience. This study aims to describe the range of research evidence on occupational stress and/burnout among HCWs compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic in Africa, as well as identify research gaps for further investigations to inform health policy decisions towards stress and/burnout reduction in this era and when a future pandemic occurs. Method: Arksey and O'Malley's methodological framework will be used to guide this scoping review. Literature searches will be conducted in PubMed, CINAHL, SCOPUS, Web of Science, Science Direct, and Google Scholar for relevant articles published in any language from January 2020 to the last search date. The literature search strategy will include keywords and Boolean and medical subject heading terms. This study will include peer-reviewed papers about Africa, with a focus on stress and burnout among HCWs in the COVID-19 era. In addition to the database searches, we will manually search the reference list of included articles as well as the World Health Organization's website for relevant papers. Using the inclusion criteria as a guide, two reviewers will independently screen the abstracts and full-text articles. A narrative synthesis will be conducted, and a summary of the findings reported. Discussion: This study will highlight the range of literature HCWs' experience of stress and/or burnout including the prevalence, associated factors, interventions/coping strategies, and reported effects on healthcare services during the COVID-19 era in Africa. This study's findings will be relevant to inform healthcare managers plan to mitigate stress and/or burnout as well prepare for such future pandemics. This study's findings will be disseminated in a peer-review journal, scientific conference, academic and research platforms, and social media. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Adverse perinatal health outcomes are notably high among African-born women living in Australia. This problem is partly attributed to their lower engagement in maternity care services as compared to Australian-born women. Various barriers might limit African-born women's access to and use of services; however, these barriers are not well documented. Therefore, this review aimed to synthesise current qualitative evidence on barriers and facilitators of access to maternity care for African-born women living in Australia. Methods: The search was conducted in MEDLINE, CINAHL, Embase, PsychInfo, and Maternity and Infant Care databases on 16 April 2023. All articles retrieved were meticulously screened for eligibility by two independent reviewers with any disagreements resolved through discussion. The quality of the included articles was evaluated using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. Studies were screened in Covidence and analysed in NVivo. The findings were organised and presented using Levesque's framework of healthcare access. Results: Out of 558 identified papers, 11 studies comprising a total of 472 participants met the eligibility criteria. The review highlighted provider-side barriers such as shortage of information, unmet cultural needs, long waiting times, low engagement of women in care, discrimination, and lack of continuity of care. User-side barriers identified include communication issues, difficulty navigating the health system, and lack of trustful relationships with healthcare providers. In contrast, the review pinpointed provider-side facilitators including positive staff attitudes, service availability, and the proximity of facilities to residential homes, while user-side facilitators such as cultural assimilation and feeling valued by healthcare providers were noted. Conclusions: This review identified barriers and facilitators of access to maternity care for African-born women living in Australia. Empirical evidence that would inform potential changes to policy and practice to address African-born women's unique health needs was highlighted. Designing and implementing a culturally safe service delivery model could remove the identified access barriers and improve African-born women's engagement in maternity care. Moreover, reinforcing factors associated with positive healthcare experiences is essential for improving maternity care access for this priority population. Systematic review registration: PROSPERO CRD42023405458. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: In December 2019, the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the urgent need for rapid collaboration, research, and interventions. International research collaborations foster more significant responses to rapid global changes by enabling international, multicentre research, decreasing biases, and increasing study validity while reducing overall research time and costs. However, there has been low uptake of collaborative research by African institutions and individuals. Aim: To systematically review facilitating factors and challenges to collaborative surgical research studies conducted in Africa. Methodology: A meta-research review using PubMed®/MEDLINE and Embase on surgical collaboration in Africa from 1st of January 2011 to 31st of September 2021 in accordance to PRISMA guidelines. Surgical studies by collaborative groups involving African authors and sites were included (55 papers). Data on the study period, geographical regions, and research scope, facilitating factors, and challenges were extracted from the studies retrieved from the search. Results: Most of the collaborations in Africa occurred with European institutions (76%). Of the 54 African countries, 63% (34/54) participated in surgical collaborations. The highest collaboration frequency occurred in South Africa (11%) and Nigeria (8%). However, most publications originated from Eastern Africa (43%). Leveraging synergies between high- and low- to middle-income countries (LMICs), well-defined structures, and secure data platforms facilitated collaboration. However, the underrepresentation of collaborators from LMICs was a significant challenge. Conclusion: Available literature provides critical insights into the facilitating factors and challenges of research collaboration with Africa. However, there is a need for a detailed prospective study to explore the themes highlighted further. Systematic review registration: PROSPERO 2022 CRD42022352115. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Utilization of post-abortion family planning is very critical to reduce high levels of unintended pregnancy, which is the root cause of induced abortion. In Eastern Africa, it is estimated that as many as 95% of unintended pregnancies occurred among women who do not practice contraception at all. Therefore, this meta-analysis aimed to assess post-abortion family planning utilization and its determinant factors in Eastern Africa. Methods: Published papers from Scopus, HINARI, PubMed, Google Scholar, and Web of Science electronic databases and grey literature repository were searched from database inception to January 30, 2020, with no restriction by design and date of publishing. We screened records, extracted data, and assessed risk of bias in duplicate. Cochrane I2 statistics were used to check the heterogeneity of the studies. Publication bias was assessed by Egger and Biggs test with a funnel plot. A random-effects model was calculated to estimate the pooled prevalence of post-abortion family planning utilization. Results: A total of twenty-nine cross-sectional studies with 70,037 study participants were included. The overall pooled prevalence of post-abortion family planning utilization was 67.86% (95% CI 63.59–72.12). The most widely utilized post-abortion family methods were injectable 33.23% (95% CI 22.12–44.34), followed by implants 24.71% (95% CI 13.53–35.89) and oral contraceptive pills 23.42% (95% CI 19.95–26.89). Married marital status (AOR=3.20; 95% CI 2.02–5.05), multiparity (AOR=3.84; 95% CI 1.43–10.33), having a history of abortion (AOR=2.33; 95% CI 1.44–3.75), getting counselling on post-abortion family planning (AOR=4.63; 95% CI 3.27–6.56), and ever use of contraceptives (AOR=4.63; 95% CI 2.27–5.21) were factors associated with post-abortion family planning utilization in Eastern Africa. Conclusions: This study revealed that the marital status of the women, multiparity, having a history of abortion, getting counselling on post-abortion family planning, and ever used contraceptives were found to be significantly associated with post-abortion family planning utilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Globally, cancer is generally recognized as a developmental threat yet most countries in Africa lack capacity to diagnose cancer especially gynecological cancers resulting in late detection and poor outcomes. However, most studies on gynecological cancers in Africa tend to focus on cervical cancer compared to the other gynecological cancers. Therefore, this scoping review will aim to describe the existing literature on the epidemiological burden of ovarian, endometrial, vaginal, and vulva cancers, their risk factors, and potential screening methods/techniques in Africa to identify priority research gaps for further research to inform health policy decisions. Methods: The framework promulgated by Arksey and O'Malley and improved by Levac et al. will be used as a guide for this scoping review. A comprehensive search for relevant published studies in PubMed, CINAHL, SCOPUS, Google Scholar, and ScienceDirect with no date limitation to the last search date. The database search strategy will include keywords, Boolean operators, and medical subject heading terms. We will additionally consult the WHO/IARC website, IHME/Global Burden of Disease Study. A snowball approach will also be used to search the reference list of all included studies to obtain relevant papers for possible inclusion in this review. We will include articles that involve African countries, focused on ovarian, endometrial, vaginal, and vulva cancers, their risk factors, and potential screening methods/techniques in any language. We will exclude studies on cervical cancer and other cancers as well as review articles. The abstracts and full-text selection will be conducted by two independent reviewers using this review's eligibility criteria as a guide. All the review selection tools, and the data extraction form will be pilot tested for accuracy and consistency. The data will be organized into thematic areas, summarized and the results communicated narratively. Discussion: It is anticipated that this review will reveal important literature gaps to guide future research to inform health policy decisions about ovarian, endometrial, and rare gynecological neoplasms in Africa. This review's findings will be disseminated via peer review journals, conferences, and other social media such Twitter and LinkedIn. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a genetic blood disorder characterized by a painful vaso-occlusive crisis due to the sickling of red blood cells in capillaries. Complications often lead to liver and renal dysfunctions, contributing to morbidity and mortality, particularly for children under 5. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the liver and renal functions of people with SCD (HbSS) compared to those without it (HbAA) in Africa. Methods: The protocol was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42022346771). We searched PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Google Scholar using the keywords "liver function", "renal function", "sickle cell disease", and "Africa" on 6th May 2023 for peer-reviewed articles with abstracts in English. We included case-control studies comparing SCD (HbSS) with controls without hemoglobinopathies (HbAA). We used the random-effect model to calculate the pooled average values for the blood tests of people with SCD in RStudio version 4.2.2. Results: Overall, 17 articles were analyzed from five African countries involving 1312 people with SCD and 1558 controls. The pooled mean difference of liver enzymes aspartate transaminase (AST) was 8.62 (95% CI − 2.99–20.23, I2 = 97.0%, p < 0.01), alanine transaminase (ALT) 7.82 (95% CI − 0.16–15.80, I2 = 99%, p < 0.01) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) − 2.54 (95% CI − 64.72 – 59.64, I2 = 99%, p < 0.01) compared to controls. The pooled mean difference for the renal biochemical profiles creatinine − 3.15 (95% CI − 15.02; 8.72, I2=99%, p < 0.01) with a funnel plot asymmetry of t = 1.09, df = 9, p = 0.3048 and sample estimates bias of 6.0409. The pooled mean difference for serum urea was − 0.57 (95% CI − 3.49; 2.36, I2 = 99%, p < 0.01), and the estimated glomerular filtration (eGFR) rate was 19.79 (95% CI 10.89–28.68 mL/min/1.73 m2, I2 = 87%, p < 0.01) compared to controls. Conclusion: People with SCD have slightly elevated liver enzymes and estimated glomerular filtration rates compared to controls in Africa. With all the heterogeneity (I2) > 50%, there was substantial variation in the reported articles' results. Systematic review registration: PROSPERO CRD42022346771 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of evidence-informed priority setting and situational analysis in pandemic preparedness and response. Health Technology Assessment (HTA) has been identified as an essential tool for evidence-informed decision-making in healthcare. However, the potential role of HTA in pandemic preparedness and response in Africa has yet to be explored. The objective of this scoping review is to ascertain the current understanding of the possible role of HTA in Africa to support future pandemic preparedness and response. Methods: We will conduct a scoping review of literature published between 2010 and 2024. Electronic databases like Embase, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar will be utilized to perform the search. We will also search grey literature sources such as websites of relevant organizations and government agencies. The search will only include studies that were conducted in the English language. Two reviewers will evaluate the titles and abstracts of the publications independently to determine their eligibility using Covidence. Full-text articles will be reviewed for eligibility and data extraction. The data will be extracted using a standardized form. The extracted data will include information on the study design, objectives, methods, findings, and conclusions. The thematic analysis approach will guide the data analysis. Themes and sub-themes will be identified and reported. The review will be reported following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines. Discussion: This scoping review will identify the existing knowledge on the potential role of HTA in Africa to support future pandemic preparedness and response. The findings will aid in identifying deficiencies in knowledge and provide valuable insights for future study. Additionally, they will inform policy-makers and other stakeholders about the potential contribution of the Health Technology Assessment (HTA) in enhancing Africa's readiness and response to pandemics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Non-traumatic coma is a common acute childhood presentation to healthcare facilities in Africa and is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Historically, the majority of cases were attributed to cerebral malaria (CM). With the recent drastic reduction in malaria incidence, non-malarial coma is becoming a larger proportion of cases and determining the aetiology is diagnostically challenging, particularly in resource-limited settings. The purpose of this study will be to evaluate the aetiology and prognosis of non-traumatic coma in African children. Methods: With no date restrictions, systematic searches of MEDLINE, Embase, and Scopus will identify prospective and retrospective studies (including randomised controlled trials, cluster randomised trials, cohort studies, cross-sectional, and case-control studies) recruiting children (1 month–16 years) with non-traumatic coma (defined by Blantyre Coma Score ≤ 2 or comparable alternative) from any African country. Disease-specific studies will be included if coma is associated and reported. The primary outcome is to determine the aetiology (infectious and non-infectious) of non-traumatic coma in African children, with pooled prevalence estimates of causes (e.g., malaria). Secondary outcomes are to determine overall estimates of morbidity and mortality of all-cause non-traumatic coma and disease-specific states of non-traumatic coma, where available. Random effects meta-analysis will summarise aetiology data and in-hospital and post-discharge mortality. Heterogeneity will be quantified with τ2, I2, and Cochran's Q test. Discussion: This systematic review will provide a summary of the best available evidence on the aetiology and outcome of non-traumatic coma in African children. Systematic review registration: PROSPERO CRD42020141937 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Adolescent substance use continues to be a growing major public health concern in Africa. Recent studies infer an overall estimated prevalence of 42% among adolescents in sub-Saharan Africa. Unfortunately, this phenomenon is not adequately documented across many settings in the continent despite known negative health and social consequences on affected individuals and their communities. Little is known about the social context of substance use in Africa among this population. Our aim is to conduct a systematic review, exploring the determinants and associated factors that influence adolescent substance use in Africa. Methods: We will search the following databases (from January 2000 onwards): PubMed, the Cochrane Library, African Journals Online (AJOL), Google Scholar, ScienceDirect and the World Health Organization (WHO) African Index Medicus. We will include population-based observational studies reporting on determinants and/or risk factors of substance use among adolescents (age 10–19 years) across Africa. Two reviewers will independently screen all citations, full-text articles and abstract data. Potential conflicts will be resolved through discussion. Study methodological quality (or bias) will be appraised using appropriate tools. If feasible, we will conduct a random-effects meta-analysis of data. We plan to conduct a meta-synthesis of qualitative studies where appropriate Discussion: This review will describe the range of determinants and associated factors found to significantly influence adolescent substance use in Africa over the last two decades. Documenting this evidence is important as it can potentially inform comprehensive interventions and treatment programmes that are targeted at adolescents and their parents in these settings. Systematic review registration: PROSPERO CRD42020190158 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Female genital mutilation (FGM) has zero health benefits. It can lead to short- and long-term risks and complications, including physical, sexual, and mental health and well-being of girls and women. It is a worldwide public health issue with more than 80% prevalence in Africa. It is a global imperative to strengthen work for the elimination, and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) strives to eliminate FGM and monitor the progress made. However, one of a challenge in tracking progress is establishing baseline prevalence data within regions and countries. Therefore, this review aimed to pool the prevalence of FGM in Africa and identify the promoting factors among women and girls. Methods: This review was conducted according to the PRISMA checklist guideline. Both published and unpublished studies conducted from 2012 onwards were eligible. Studies written in non-English languages were excluded. To retrieve relevant studies; PubMed/Medline, Google Scholar, Science Direct, African Journals Online databases, and African Index Medicus (AIM) were searched using a combination of searching terms. The Newcastle-Ottawa Assessment Scale (NOS) tool was used to assess the quality of each included study. The Cochran's Q chi-square and I2 statistical tests were used to evaluate the heterogeneity of the included studies. The Funnel plot and Egger's regression test (p value < 0.05) were used to evaluate meh publication bias. We used STATA for analysis and the overall and subgroup pooled effect size was estimated using the random effect model with DerSimonian and Laired pooled effect method. The overall prevalence of FGM and the adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with 95%CI (confidence interval) for contributing factors were calculated and presented using a forest plot. Result: This study included 155 primary studies conducted on the prevalence and/or factors associated with FGM in Africa. The pooled prevalence of FGM was 56.4% (95%CI 49.7–63.6). The primary factors promoting the practice of FGM were family history of circumcision (AOR = 13.71, 95%CI 9.11−20.62), being a Muslim religion follower (AOR = 3.51, 95%CI 2.61−4.71), poor wealth index (AOR = 1.38, 95%CI1.27−1.51), higher age (AOR = 2.95, 95%CI 2.49−3.38), not attending formal education (AOR = 3.28, 95%CI 2.62−4.12), and rural residency (AOR = 2.27, 95%CI 1.84−2.80). Conclusion: The prevalence of FGM in Africa was found to be high. This study also observed a variation in FGM prevalence across regions and countries and a slight temporal decline over the study period. As the global community enters the final decade dedicated to eliminating FGM, there remains much to be done to achieve the elimination goal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Robust, relevant, comprehensive, and up-to-date evidence syntheses are the cornerstone for evidence-informed healthcare decisions. When considering multiple treatment options, network meta-analysis (NMA) systematic reviews play a key role in informing impactful decisions and clinical practice guidelines. However, the capacity and literacy to conduct NMA systematic reviews and interpret its results remains out of reach for many clinicians and review authors, especially in low-to-middle-income countries. Despite ample resources and guides, NMA capacity and training opportunities remain limited to non-existent in Sub-Saharan Africa. Towards solutions and strengthening evidence synthesis and NMA capacity in the Sub-Saharan African region, we describe and reflect on two courses that build NMA capacity and aim to address NMA literacy in Sub-Saharan Africa. The Primer in NMA systematic reviews aimed for participants to be able to find, appraise, interpret, and consider the use of NMA SRs of intervention effects. It is a 6-week online course for clinicians, policy-makers, and researchers wanting to learn more about using NMA systematic reviews. The Global NMA Masterclass workshop aimed for participants to be able to understand and apply pairwise and NMA in STATA and R, evaluate NMA assumptions and confidence in NMA results, and appropriately report NMA results. This course was offered over 5 weeks to clinicians, biostatisticians, and researchers with basic knowledge of epidemiology and biostatics. Although the bulk of learning occurred through self-study, we had weekly, synchronous question-and-answer sessions for both courses. Using relevant examples throughout the courses helped to enable an authentic learning environment. This was the first NMA training developed in Africa for Africa. Development of the courses was a collaborative effort from a multi-disciplinary team. Both NMA courses were well received and attended by a diverse group of participants spread across Sub-Saharan African countries. Participants felt the courses were applicable to their setting. Although most participants appreciated the benefits of online learning, we also experienced some challenges. There is great potential to conduct NMA systematic reviews in Sub-Saharan Africa. The NMA Primer and NMA workshop can play an essential role in expanding and developing NMA SR capacity and literacy in SSA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The health of older persons has not been a major priority in many African countries. Hypertension is one of the common health problems of older persons. However, there is little information on the prevalence of hypertension in older adults in Africa. This is in spite of the fact that Africa has the highest age-standardized prevalence of hypertension in the world. We therefore present this protocol to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis on the prevalence of hypertension and the level of its awareness among older persons living in Africa. Methods: Major databases (EMBASE, MEDLINE, Academic Search Complete, CINAHL, PsycINFO) and unpublished literature will be searched to identify population-based studies on hypertension in adults aged 50 years and older living in Africa. Eligible articles are those which use the 140/90-mmHg cutoff to diagnose hypertension and were published from 1980 to present. We will exclude subjects in restricted environments such as patients and refugees. Articles will be independently evaluated by two reviewers to determine if they meet the inclusion criteria. They will also evaluate the quality of included studies using a validated tool by Hoy and colleagues for prevalence studies. The main outcome is the prevalence of hypertension while the explanatory variables include demographic, socio-economic, dietary, lifestyle and behavioural factors. Effect sizes in bivariate and multivariate analyses will be presented as odds or prevalence ratios. We will explore for heterogeneity of the standard errors across the studies, and if appropriate, we will perform a meta-analysis using a random-effects model to present a summary estimate of the prevalence of hypertension in this population. Discussion: The estimates of the prevalence, the risk factors and the level of awareness of hypertension could help in galvanizing efforts at prioritizing the cardiovascular health of older persons in Africa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection that cause coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have afflicted millions worldwide. Understanding the underlying spatial and temporal dynamics can help orient timely public health policies and optimize the targeting of non-pharmaceutical interventions and vaccines to the most vulnerable populations, particularly in resource-constrained settings. The review systematically summarises important methodological aspects and specificities of spatial approaches applied to COVID-19 in Africa. Methods: Thematically selected keywords will be used to search for refereed studies in the following electronic databases PubMed, SCOPUS, MEDLINE, CINHAL, and Coronavirus Research Database from January 2020 to February 2022. Two independent reviewers will screen the title, abstracts, and full texts against predefined eligibility criteria based on the study's characteristics, methodological relevance, and quality. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) 2020 procedures will be adhered to during the reporting process. Discussion: COVID-19 modeling remains in its infancy, and research is needed to characterize uncertainty and validate various modeling regimes appropriately. It is anticipated that the review will aid spatial, spatio-temporal modeling decisions necessary for mitigating the current and future pandemics. Systematic review registration: CRD42021279767 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Improving evidence-informed policy dialogue to support the development and implementation of national health policies is vital, but there is limited evidence on researchers' roles in policy dialogue processes in Africa. The objective of this study is to examine researchers' involvement in health policy dialogue in Africa. Methods: The database search of this scoping review was conducted from inception to January 24, 2021, by an expert searcher/librarian to determine the extent of evidence, barriers, and facilitators of researchers' involvement in health policy dialogues in Africa. PROSPERO, Wiley Cochrane Library, OVID Medline, OVID EMBASE, OVID PsycINFO, OVID Global Health, EBSCO CINAHL, BASE (Bielefeld Academic Search Engine), and Google/Google Scholar were searched using key words representing the concepts "policy dialogue", "health", and "Africa". No limits were applied. A narrative summary of results was presented. Results: There were 26 eligible studies representing 21 African countries. Significant discrepancies in researchers' involvement existed across countries. In 62% of the countries, there was suboptimal involvement of researchers in policy dialogues due to no or partial participation in policy dialogues. Major barriers included limited funding, lack of evidence in the public health field of interest, and skepticism of policymakers. The presence of an interface for exchange, demand for scientific evidence, and donors' funding were the most reported facilitators. Conclusions: To improve the uptake of evidence in health policy-making processes, an environment of trust and communication between policymakers and researchers must be established. Policymakers need to demonstrate that they value research, by providing adequate funding, promoting knowledge translation activities, and supporting personal and professional development opportunities for researchers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Alcohol consumption is a key public health challenge in sub-Saharan Africa, which has the highest burden of alcohol attributable injury and disease of any region. Excess alcohol use is particularly harmful for adolescents and has been associated with neurocognitive defects and social and emotional problems. Effective screening and assessment tools are necessary to implement, evaluate and monitor interventions to prevent and decrease adolescent alcohol use. Most of these tools have been used among adolescent groups in high income settings; data on their effectiveness in Africa, where much alcohol use is unregulated, is limited. This scoping review will examine and map the range of tools in use and create an evidence base for future research in adolescent alcohol prevention and control in Africa. Methods: The review will include all relevant study designs and grey literature. Inclusion and exclusion criteria have been designed using the Population – Concept – Context framework, and two reviewers will independently screen titles, abstracts and then full text to determine eligibility of articles. The Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, CINAHL and Global Health data bases will be searched for peer reviewed publications. The search strategy for grey literature will include Google searches and searches in websites of pertinent professional bodies and charities. The methodological framework proposed by Arksey and O'Malley and adaptations by the Joanna Briggs Institute and Levac et al. will be used. An iterative approach to charting, collating, summarising and reporting the data will be taken, with the development of charting forms and the final presentation of results led by the extracted data. Results: This scoping review protocol describes a secondary analysis of data already collected to explore and map alcohol consumption measurement tools in adolescents in Africa. Conclusions: It is anticipated that our findings will provide an evidence base surrounding tools used to measure adolescent alcohol consumption in Africa. These findings are likely to be useful in informing future research, policy and public health strategies. Findings will be disseminated widely through peer-reviewed publication and in various media, for example, conferences, congresses or symposia. Systematic review registration: Scoping Review Registration: Open Science Framework (https://osf.io/bjhgw/) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Harmful alcohol use is a leading risk to the health of populations worldwide. Within Africa, where most consumers are adolescents, alcohol use represents a key public health challenge. Interventions to prevent or substantially delay alcohol uptake and decrease alcohol consumption in adolescence could significantly decrease morbidity and mortality, through both immediate effects and future improved adult outcomes. In Africa, these interventions are urgently needed; however, key data necessary to develop them are lacking as most evidence to date relates to high-income countries. The purpose of this review is to examine and map the range of interventions in use and create an evidence base for future research in this area. Methods: In the first instance, we will conduct a review of systematic reviews relevant to global adolescent alcohol interventions. We will search the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, MEDLINE (Ovid), CINAHL, Web of Science, Global Health and PubMed using a broad search. In the second instance we will conduct a scoping review by drawing on the methodological framework proposed by Arksey and O'Malley. We will search for all study designs and grey literature using the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, MEDLINE (Ovid), CINAHL, Web of Science and Global Health, Google searches and searches in websites of relevant professional bodies and charities. An iterative approach to charting, collating, summarising and reporting the data will be taken, with the development of charting forms and the final presentation of results led by the extracted data. In both instances, the inclusion and exclusion criteria have been pre-defined, and two reviewers will independently screen abstracts and full text to determine eligibility of articles. Discussion: It is anticipated that our findings will map intervention strategies aiming to reduce adolescent alcohol consumption in Africa. These findings are likely to be useful in informing future research, policy and public health strategies. Findings will be disseminated widely through peer-reviewed publication and in various media, for example, conferences, congresses or symposia. Protocol Registration: This protocol was submitted to the Open Science Framework on May 03, 2021. www.osf.io/qnvba [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is one of the angiogenesis regulators, which plays an important role in tumor angiogenesis and tumor progression. Current studies have found that VEGF plays an important role in hematologic diseases including acute myeloid leukemia (AML). However, the circulating levels of VEGF in AML were still controversial among published studies. Methods: Three databases including PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library databases were searched up to February 2020. All articles included in the meta-analysis met our inclusion and exclusion criteria. Studies will be screened and data extracted by two independent investigators. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) and the Risk of Bias In Non-randomized Studies of Interventions (ROBINS-I) tool were applied to evaluate the quality of the included studies. A random-effects model was applied to pool the standardized mean difference (SMD). Heterogeneity test was performed by the Q statistic and quantified using I2. All statistical analysis was conducted in Stata 12.0 software. Results: Fourteen case-control studies were finally included in this systematic review and meta-analysis. Heterogeneity was high in our included studies (I2 = 91.1%, P < 0.001). Sensitivity analysis showed no significant change when any one study was excluded using random-effect methods (P > 0.05). Egger's linear regression test showed that no publication bias existed (P > 0.05). Patients with AML, mainly those newly diagnosed and untreated, have higher VEGF levels (SMD = 0.85, 95% CI 0.28–1.42). Moreover, AML patients in n ≥ 40 group, plasma group, Asia and Africa group, and age ≥ 45 group had higher circulating VEGF levels (all P < 0.05). Conclusions: Compared to healthy controls, our meta-analysis shows a significantly higher level of circulating VEGF in AML patients, and it is associated with sample size, sample type, region, and age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Gastric cancer is actually known as the sixth most frequent cancer and the second cancer-related cause of death worldwide. If studies giving an overview of current epidemiology of gastric cancer in Europe, Asia, and the USA are available, in Africa, studies reporting recent data on gastric cancer are sparse. This systematic review and meta-analysis aim therefore to provide relevant data on contemporary epidemiology of gastric cancer in Africa in terms of prevalence, incidence, and case fatality rate. Methods and design: We will include cohort, case-control, cross-sectional studies, and case series with more than 30 participants. EMBASE, PubMed, Africa Index Medicus, Africa Journals Online, and Web of Science will be searched for relevant abstracts of studies published and unpublished between January 1, 2000, and April 30, 2019, without language restriction. The review will be reported according to the MOOSE (Meta-analysis Of Observational Studies in Epidemiology) guideline. After screening of abstracts, study selection, data extraction, and risk of bias assessment, we shall assess the studies individually for clinical and statistical heterogeneity. Random-effect meta-analysis will be used to pool studies judged to be clinically homogenous. The Egger test and visual inspection of funnel plots will be used to assess publication bias. Discussion: This review will provide relevant data on the current burden of gastric cancer in Africa. Systematic review registration: PROSPERO CRD42019130348. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: People living with HIV (PLHIV) in African countries are living longer due to the rollout of antiretroviral drug therapy programs, but they are at increasing risk of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). However, there remain many gaps in detecting and treating NCDs in African health systems, and little is known about how NCDs are being managed among PLHIV. Developing integrated chronic care models that effectively prevent and treat NCDs among PLHIV requires an understanding of the current patterns of care delivery and the major barriers and facilitators to health care. We present a systematic review protocol to synthesize studies of healthcare delivery for an important subset of NCDs, cardiovascular and metabolic diseases (CMDs), among African PLHIV. Methods/design: We plan to search electronic databases and reference lists of relevant studies published in African settings from January 2003 to the present. Studies will be considered if they address one or both of our major objectives and focus on health care for one or more of six interrelated CMDs (ischemic heart disease, stroke, heart failure, hypertension, diabetes, and hyperlipidemia) in PLHIV. Our first objective will be to estimate proportions of CMD patients along the "cascade of care"-i.e., screened, diagnosed, aware of the diagnosis, initiated on treatment, adherent to treatment, and with controlled disease. Our second objective will be to identify unique barriers and facilitators to health care faced by PLHIV in African countries. For studies deemed eligible for inclusion, we will assess study quality and risk of bias using previously published criteria. We will extract study data using standardized instruments. We will meta-analyze quantitative data at each level of the cascade of care for each CMD (first objective). We will use meta-synthesis techniques to understand and integrate qualitative data on health-related behaviors (second objective). Discussion: CMDs and other NCDs are becoming major health concerns for African PLHIV. The results of our review will inform the development of research into chronic care models that integrate care for HIV/AIDS and CMDs among PLHIV. Our findings will be highly relevant to health policymakers, administrators, and practitioners in African settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Asthma is one of the most common chronic respiratory conditions in the world and is increasing in prevalence, particularly in Africa and other low-income countries. The disproportionately high numbers of premature deaths and severe or uncontrolled cases in many African countries are indicative of their inability to cope with a costly disease like asthma. Progress has, however, been made in understanding the complex and heterogeneous nature of the disease. The objective of this study will be to summarise the epidemiological literature on the nature of asthma in African countries. Methods: We registered a study protocol for a scoping review. The review was designed following the Arksey and O'Malley framework. We will search PubMed/MEDLINE, African Journals Online (AJOL) and relevant grey literature (e.g. Google Scholar, EBSCOhost) from January 1990 onwards. Only primary epidemiological studies of asthma (e.g. frequency, disease mechanisms, associated risk factors and comorbidities) written in English and conducted in Africa will be included. Two reviewers will independently screen all citations, full-text articles and abstract data. Potential conflicts will be resolved through discussion. Findings will be reported using narrative synthesis and tabulation of the summaries. Discussion: This scoping review will capture the state of the current epidemiological literature on asthma in African countries. Results will be published in a peer-reviewed journal. We anticipate this review will identify gaps and make recommendations for future areas of study. Scoping review registration: Open Science Framework http://osf.io/n2p87/ [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Insufficient iodine intake in pregnancy is associated with many adverse pregnancy outcomes. About 90% of African countries are at risk of iodine deficiency due to poor soils and dietary goitrogens. Pregnancy predisposes to insufficient iodine nutrition secondary to increased physiological demand and increased renal loss. Iodine deficiency is re-emerging in countries thought to be replete with pregnant women being the most affected. This review seeks to identify the degree of iodine nutrition in pregnancy on the entire African continent before and after the implementation of national iodization programmes. Methods: A systematic search of published literature will be conducted for observational studies that directly determined the prevalence of insufficient iodine intake among pregnant women in Africa. Electronic databases and grey literature will be searched for baseline data before the implementation of population-based iodine supplementation and for follow-up data up to December 2018. Screening of identified articles and data extraction will be conducted independently by two investigators. Risk of bias and methodological quality of the included studies will be assessed using a risk of bias tool. Appropriate meta-analytic techniques will be used to pool prevalence estimates from studies with similar features, overall and by major characteristics including the region of the study, time period (before and after implementation of iodization programmes), sample size and age. Heterogeneity of the estimates across studies will be quantified and publication bias investigated. This protocol is reported according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analysis protocols (PRISMA-P) 2015 guidelines. Discussion: This review will help ascertain the impact of national iodization programmes on the iodine nutrition status in pregnancy in Africa and advise policy on the necessity for monitoring and mitigating iodine deficiency in pregnancy in Africa. This review is part of a thesis that will be submitted to the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, for the award of a PhD in Medicine whose protocol has been granted ethics approval (UCT HREC 135/2018). In addition, the results will be published in a peer-reviewed journal. Systematic review registration: PROSPERO CRD42018099434 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is one of the major causes of acute hepatitis in humans worldwide with a case-fatality rate of 1–4% in the general population that might reach 30% in pregnant women. In the past decade in Africa, studies have shown that HEV infects not only humans but also animals. A systematic review summarizing the epidemiological data of HEV has been only performed in humans residing in Africa. We will perform this systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the prevalence of HEV infection in animal species in Africa. Methods: This review will include cross-sectional studies among different animal species that reported the prevalence of HEV in Africa. We will consider published and unpublished studies from January 1, 2000 to present. A comprehensive search of PubMed, Excerpta Medica, African Journals Online, and Africa Index Medicus will be conducted to identify all relevant articles. Reference lists of eligible items and relevant articles will be reviewed. The funnel plots and the Egger test will be used to assess the publication bias. Study-specific estimates will be aggregated using a DerSimonian and Laird random-effects meta-analysis model to obtain an overall summary estimate of HEV prevalence across studies. The heterogeneity of the studies will be evaluated by the χ2 test on the Cochran's Q test. The results will be presented by animal species. Discussion: HEV-infected animals are likely to transmit this virus to humans in Africa, as studies have already shown in developed countries. This systematic review and meta-analysis will provide a clear picture of the epidemiology of HEV in animals in Africa, to better understand this infection and to respond adequately to the epidemic challenges that often afflict Africa. Systematic review registration: PROSPERO, CRD42018087684. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Despite policies for universal HIV testing and treatment (UTT) regardless of CD4 count, there are still 1.8 million new HIV infections and 1 million AIDS-related deaths annually. The UNAIDS 90-90-90 goals target suppression of HIV viral load in 73% of all HIV-infected people worldwide by 2030. However, achieving these targets may not lead to expected reductions in HIV incidence if the remaining 27% (persons with unsuppressed viral load) are the drivers of HIV transmission through high-risk behaviors. We aim to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to understand the demographics, mobility, geographic distribution, and risk profile of adults who are not virologically suppressed in sub-Saharan Africa in the era of UTT. Methods: We will review the published and grey literature for study sources that contain data on demographic and behavioral strata of virologically suppressed and unsuppressed populations since 2014. We will search PubMed and Embase using four sets of search terms tailored to identify characteristics associated with virological suppression (or lack thereof) and each of the individual 90-90-90 goals. Record screening and data abstraction will be done independently and in duplicate. We will use random effects meta-regression analyses to estimate the distribution of demographic and risk features among groups not virologically suppressed and for each individual 90-90-90 goal. Discussion: The results of our review will help elucidate factors associated with failure to achieve virological suppression in sub-Saharan Africa, as well as factors associated with failure to achieve each of the 90-90-90 goals. These data will help quantify the population-level effects of current HIV treatment interventions to improve strategies for maximizing virological suppression and ending the HIV epidemic. Systematic review registration: PROSPERO CRD42018089505. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Depression represents one of the most frequent neuro-psychiatric diseases; it seems to be more prevalent in people living with HIV compared to the general population. However, summarized data in the African setting on the topic are scarce. This systematic review and meta-analysis aims at assessing the prevalence and incidence of major depressive disorders (MDD) in HIV-infected African populations residing in Africa., Methods and Design: This review will include observational studies conducted among HIV-infected people residing in Africa, which have reported either the prevalence or incidence of MDD or enough data for its appraisal. Relevant records will be searched using PubMed/Medline, EMBASE, African Journals Online, and Africa Index Medicus. In addition, reference lists of eligible papers and relevant review articles will be screened. Published studies from inception Jan 1, 2000 to Dec 31, 2017 will be considered regardless of language of publication. Two review authors will independently screen, select studies, and extract data, with discrepancies resolved by consensus or arbitration by a third review author. Methodological quality of included studies will be assessed using the scale developed by Hoy and colleagues. Funnel-plots and Egger's test will be used to determine publication bias. The study-specific estimates will be pooled through a random-effects meta-analysis model to obtain an overall summary estimate. The heterogeneity will be evaluated by the χ 2 test on Cochrane's Q statistic. Results will be presented by geographical region and antiretroviral therapy status., Discussion: This study is based on published data; therefore, ethical approval is not a requirement. The final report of this study in the form of a scientific paper will be published in a peer-reviewed journal and presented at scientific conferences. This review will help to have an overview of the burden of MDD among HIV-infected people residing in Africa., Systematic Review Registration: PROSPERO, CRD42017058118 .