Assessing the combined effect of multiple metal exposures on pregnancy and birth outcomes: Methodological insights in systematic review research

Ibrahim Issah; Mabel S Duah; John Arko-Mensah; Serwaa A Bawua; Thomas P Agyekum; Julius N Fobil

doi:10.1016/j.mex.2024.102558

Assessing the combined effect of multiple metal exposures on pregnancy and birth outcomes: Methodological insights in systematic review research

MethodsX. 2024 Jan 6:12:102558. doi: 10.1016/j.mex.2024.102558. eCollection 2024 Jun.

Authors

Ibrahim Issah^{1

2}, Mabel S Duah^{1

3

4}, John Arko-Mensah^{1

3}, Serwaa A Bawua^{1

3}, Thomas P Agyekum⁵, Julius N Fobil^{1

3}

Affiliations

¹ West Africa Center for Global Environmental & Occupational Health, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra.
² Department of Surgery, Tamale Teaching Hospital, Tamale, Ghana.
³ Department of Biological, Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra.
⁴ West African Center for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens, College of basic and Applied sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra.
⁵ Department of Occupational and Environmental Health and Safety, School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi 00233, Ghana.

Abstract

This systematic review focused on pregnant women and aimed to evaluate how exposure to multiple metals impacts their pregnancy and birth outcomes. Previous research has predominantly focused on the effects of individual metal exposures on adverse birth outcomes. However, it is crucial to recognize that real-world scenarios often involve simultaneous exposure to multiple pollutants. Recent studies have emphasized the significance of considering exposure to mixtures of metals to gain a more comprehensive understanding of their collective health impacts. This article outlines the essential steps taken during the systematic review process, which involved synthesizing existing evidence and evaluating the strength and consistency of the relationship between metal mixtures and pregnancy and birth outcomes.

Keywords: Birth outcomes; Exposure; Metals; Methods; Methods for systematic review on metal mixture exposures and health outcomes: PECOS, PRISMA, and narrative synthesis approach.; Mixture analysis; Systematic review.

Publication types

Review