Understanding interventions for improving routine immunization coverage in children in low- and middle-income countries : a systematic review protocol

Machingaidze, Shingai; Rehfuess, Eva; Von Kries, Rudiger; Hussey, Gregory D.; Wiysonge, Charles S.

Understanding interventions for improving routine immunization coverage in children in low- and middle-income countries : a systematic review protocol

dc.contributor.author	Machingaidze, Shingai	en_ZA
dc.contributor.author	Rehfuess, Eva	en_ZA
dc.contributor.author	Von Kries, Rudiger	en_ZA
dc.contributor.author	Hussey, Gregory D.	en_ZA
dc.contributor.author	Wiysonge, Charles S.	en_ZA
dc.date.accessioned	2014-09-17T08:14:24Z
dc.date.available	2014-09-17T08:14:24Z
dc.date.issued	2013-11
dc.date.updated	2014-04-05T15:13:54Z
dc.description	CITATION: Machingaidze, S. et al. 2013. Understanding interventions for improving routine immunization coverage in children in low- and middle-income countries: a systematic review protocol. Systematic Reviews, 2(1):106, doi:10.1186/2046-4053-2-106.	en_ZA
dc.description	The original publication is available at http://www.systematicreviewsjournal.com/content/2/1/106	en_ZA
dc.description.abstract	Background: Virtually all low- and middle-income countries are dependent on the World Health Organization’s Expanded Program on Immunization for delivery of vaccines to children. The Expanded Program on Immunization delivers routine immunization services from health facilities free of charge. Understanding interventions for improving immunization coverage remains key in achieving universal childhood immunization. Methods: We will conduct a systematic review that aims to assess the effectiveness of the full range of potential interventions to improve routine immunization coverage in children in low- and middle-income countries. We will include intervention studies, as well as observational studies. We will search the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (CDSR), Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), MEDLINE, EMBASE, electronic databases for eligible studies published by 31 August 2013. At least two authors will independently screen search outputs, select studies, extract data and assess the risk of bias (using separate criteria for interventions and observational studies); resolving any disagreements by discussion and consensus. The use of logic models and the Cochrane Complexity Matrix will be explored in order to better understand and contextualize studies. We will express the result of each study as a risk ratio with its corresponding 95% confidence intervals for dichotomous data, or mean difference with its standard deviation for continuous data. We will conduct meta-analysis for the same type of participants, interventions, study designs, and outcome measures where homogeneity of data allows. Use of harvest plots may be explored as an alternative. Heterogeneity will be assessed using the χ2 test of heterogeneity, and quantified using the I2 statistic. This protocol has not been registered with PROSPERO. Discussion: This review will allow us to document evidence across a broad range of intervention types for improving routine immunization coverage in children and also distinguish between those that are well supported by evidence (to direct policy recommendations) and those that are not well supported (to direct research agenda).	en_ZA
dc.description.version	Publishers' version	en_ZA
dc.format.extent	5 pages
dc.identifier.citation	Machingaidze, S. et al. 2013. Understanding interventions for improving routine immunization coverage in children in low- and middle-income countries: a systematic review protocol. Systematic Reviews, 2(1):106, doi:10.1186/2046-4053-2-106.	en_ZA
dc.identifier.issn	2046-4053 (online)
dc.identifier.other	doi:10.1186/2046-4053-2-106
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/95573
dc.language.iso	en_ZA	en_ZA
dc.publisher	BioMed Central	en_ZA
dc.rights.holder	Shingai Machingaidze et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.	en_ZA
dc.subject	Immunization of children -- Developing countries	en_ZA
dc.subject	Immunization of infants -- Developing countries	en_ZA
dc.subject	Vaccination of children -- Developing countries	en_ZA
dc.subject	World Health Organization. Expanded Programme on Immunization	en_ZA
dc.subject	Vaccination of infants -- Developing countries	en_ZA
dc.title	Understanding interventions for improving routine immunization coverage in children in low- and middle-income countries : a systematic review protocol	en_ZA
dc.type	Article	en_ZA