Systematic review protocol examining sex differences in survival among low birthweight newborns and infants in sub-Saharan Africa

Akalewold T Gebremeskel; Arone W Fantaye; Lena E Faust; Sanni Yaya

doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2019-036645

Systematic review protocol examining sex differences in survival among low birthweight newborns and infants in sub-Saharan Africa

BMJ Open. 2020 Jun 28;10(6):e036645. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2019-036645.

Authors

Akalewold T Gebremeskel¹, Arone W Fantaye², Lena E Faust³, Sanni Yaya^{4

5}

Affiliations

¹ School of International Development and Global Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
² Interdisciplinary School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
³ Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Ontario, Canada.
⁴ School of International Development and Global Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada sanni.yaya@uOttawa.ca.
⁵ The George Institute for Global Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.

Abstract

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.

Keywords: community child health; epidemiology; public health.

MeSH terms

Africa South of the Sahara / epidemiology
Birth Weight
Female
Humans
Infant
Infant Mortality / trends*
Infant, Low Birth Weight*
Infant, Newborn
Male
Research Design
Sex Characteristics*
Systematic Reviews as Topic