Mapping research evidence on perinatal asphyxia within the sustainable development era in sub-Saharan Africa: a scoping review protocol

Michael K Mensah; Franky K Tano Kofi; Monica Ansu-Mensah; Vitalis Bawontuo; Desmond Kuupiel

doi:10.1186/s13643-022-02058-4

Mapping research evidence on perinatal asphyxia within the sustainable development era in sub-Saharan Africa: a scoping review protocol

Syst Rev. 2022 Aug 30;11(1):182. doi: 10.1186/s13643-022-02058-4.

Authors

Michael K Mensah¹, Franky K Tano Kofi¹, Monica Ansu-Mensah², Vitalis Bawontuo³, Desmond Kuupiel⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Public Health, Faculty of Health and Allied Sciences, Catholic University, College of Ghana, Fiapre, Sunyani, Ghana.
² The University Clinic, Sunyani Technical University, Sunyani, Ghana.
³ Department of Health Services Management and Administration, School of Business, SD Dombo University of Business and Integrated Development Studies (SDD-UBIDS), Bamahu, Ghana.
⁴ Faculty of Health Sciences, Durban University of Technology, Durban, 4001, South Africa. desmondkuupiel98@hotmail.com.

Abstract

Background: Approximately 45% of all under-five child deaths are among newborn infants, babies in their first 28 days of life, or the neonatal period every year in the World Health Organization (WHO) Africa Region. To facilitate the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3.2, innovative interventions are needed to address this challenge. Thus, this scoping review aims to map research evidence on perinatal asphyxia among neonates in the WHO Africa Region.

Methods: This scoping review will be guided by the Arksey and O'Malley framework, Levac et al. recommendations, and the Joanna Briggs Institute checklist for scoping reviews. Relevant published literature will be searched using a combination of keywords, Boolean terms, and Medical Subject Headings in the following databases: PubMed, SCOPUS, CINAHL, and Web of Science from January 2016 onwards. We will further search the World Health Organization and government websites, as well as the reference list of included studies for potentially eligible studies. This scoping review will include research evidence involving countries in the WHO Africa Region, with a focus on the burden of perinatal asphyxia, contributory/associated factors of perinatal asphyxia, clinical interventions for perinatal asphyxia, and interventions/strategies for the prevention of perinatal asphyxia in the SDGs era. Two reviewers will independently sort the studies to include and exclude, guided by the eligibility criteria. Also, the data from the included studies will be extracted and any discrepancies resolved using a third reviewer. Thematic analysis will be conducted, and the findings reported using both qualitative tables and figures. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis Extension for Scoping Review (PRISMA-ScR) will be followed to report this study's results. Quality appraisal of the included studies will be done utilising the mixed methods appraisal tool version 2018.

Conclusion: This scoping review results may reveal research evidence gaps to inform future primary studies, systematic reviews and meta-analyses; and possibly contribute towards the realisation of the SDG 3.2 by countries in the WHO Africa Region. The finding of this review will be disseminated using multiple channels such as workshops, peer review publications, conferences, and social media.

Keywords: Africa; Birth asphyxia; Neonate; Newborn; Perinatal asphyxia; Scoping review; Sustainable Development Goal.

MeSH terms

Africa South of the Sahara / epidemiology
Asphyxia*
Female
Humans
Infant, Newborn
Pregnancy
Research Design
Sustainable Development*
Systematic Reviews as Topic