Highlights
- •Surgically correctable congenital anomalies represent significant morbidity and mortality in children from low-and lower-middle-income countries. Pre- and post-natal screening methods can help in decreasing this burden.
- •The most used methods include physician clinical examination, pulse oximetry and fetal ultrasound. The most feasible screening method was a birth defect picture toolkit.
Summary
Introduction
Surgically correctable congenital anomalies are responsible for a significant burden
of morbidity and mortality in children from low-and lower-middle-income countries
(LMICs). Early identification through fetal and neonatal screening is critical to
reducing death and disability. This study aims to identify feasible screening methods
for surgically correctable congenital anomalies in LMICs.
Methods
A systematic search looking at screening for congenital anomalies in LMIC was conducted
in seven databases from 2000 until May 25, 2020, with no language restriction. All
articles discussing screening methods for surgically correctable congenital anomalies
in LMICs were included. Articles were screened by two independent contributors using
Rayyan software, with a third contributor resolving conflicts. Feasibility of the
screening method and its risk of bias were assessed using the MINORS scale.
Results
Of 3473 articles, 24 were included in the full-text review. Nine screening methods
(three prenatal and six postnatal) were identified - the most frequently utilized
being physician clinical examination (45.8%), pulse oximetry (33.3%) and fetal ultrasound(20.8%).
The use of a birth defect picture toolkit was the most feasible screening method.
The risk of bias scale yielded an average of 11.9 points, which corresponds to a moderate
level of bias.
Conclusion
Despite clear benefits, prenatal and neonatal screening methods are infrequently used
in LMICs to identify surgically correctable congenital anomalies in neonates, likely
due to financial, material, and human resource constraints. Further research into
the development of low-cost feasible methods is needed within these settings.
PROSPERO registration number
CRD42020192051.
Type of Study
Systematic review.
Level of Evidence
IV.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
January 10,
2023
Received:
January 8,
2023
Publication stage
In Press Accepted ManuscriptIdentification
Copyright
© 2023 Published by Elsevier Inc.
