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Nguyen GT, Gauvreau C, Mansuri N, Wight L, Wong B, Neposlan J, Petricca K, Denburg A. Implementation factors of non-communicable disease policies and programmes for children and youth in low-income and middle-income countries: a systematic review. BMJ Paediatr Open 2024; 8:e002556. [PMID: 38830723 PMCID: PMC11149138 DOI: 10.1136/bmjpo-2024-002556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2024] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Despite declared life-course principles in non-communicable disease (NCD) prevention and management, worldwide focus has been on older rather than younger populations. However, the burden from childhood NCDs has mounted; particularly in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). There is limited knowledge regarding the implementation of paediatric NCD policies and programmes in LMICs, despite their disproportionate burden of morbidity and mortality. We aimed to understand the barriers to and facilitators of paediatric NCD policy and programme implementation in LMICs. METHODS We systematically searched medical databases, Web of Science and WHOLIS for studies on paediatric NCD policy and programme implementation in LMICs. Screening and quality assessment were performed independently by researchers, using consensus to resolve differences. Data extraction was conducted within the WHO health system building-blocks framework. Narrative thematic synthesis was conducted. RESULTS 93 studies (1992-2020) were included, spanning 86 LMICs. Most were of moderate or high quality. 78% reported on paediatric NCDs outside the four major NCD categories contributing to the adult burden. Across the framework, more barriers than facilitators were identified. The most prevalently reported factors were related to health service delivery, with system fragmentation impeding the continuity of age-specific NCD care. A significant facilitator was intersectoral collaborations between health and education actors to deliver care in trusted community settings. Non-health factors were also important to paediatric NCD policies and programmes, such as community stakeholders, sociocultural support to caregivers and school disruptions. CONCLUSIONS Multiple barriers prevent the optimal implementation of paediatric NCD policies and programmes in LMIC health systems. The low sociopolitical visibility of paediatric NCDs limits their prioritisation, resulting in fragmented service delivery and constraining the integration of programmes across key sectors impacting children, including health, education and social services. Implementation research is needed to understand specific contextual solutions to improve access to paediatric NCD services in diverse LMIC settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gina T Nguyen
- University College Dublin School of Medicine, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Cindy Gauvreau
- Child Health and Evaluative Sciences, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Lisa Wight
- The University of British Columbia School of Population and Public Health, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Bryan Wong
- Queen's University School of Medicine, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
| | - Josh Neposlan
- University of Western Ontario Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Kadia Petricca
- Child Health and Evaluative Sciences, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Avram Denburg
- Child Health and Evaluative Sciences, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Institute for Health Policy, Management, and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Khneisser I, Adib S, Assaad S, Megarbane A, Karam P. Cost-benefit analysis: newborn screening for inborn errors of metabolism in Lebanon. J Med Screen 2015; 22:182-6. [PMID: 26062758 DOI: 10.1177/0969141315590675] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2014] [Accepted: 05/12/2015] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Few countries in the Middle East-North Africa region have adopted national newborn screening for inborn errors of metabolism by tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS). We aimed to evaluate the cost-benefit of newborn screening for such disorders in Lebanon, as a model for other developing countries in the region. METHODS Average costs of expected care for inborn errors of metabolism cases as a group, between ages 0 and 18, early and late diagnosed, were calculated from 2007 to 2013. The monetary value of early detection using MS/MS was compared with that of clinical "late detection", including cost of diagnosis and hospitalizations. RESULTS During this period, 126000 newborns were screened. Incidence of detected cases was 1/1482, which can be explained by high consanguinity rates in Lebanon. A reduction by half of direct cost of care, reaching on average 31,631 USD per detected case was shown. This difference more than covers the expense of starting a newborn screening programme. CONCLUSION Although this model does not take into consideration the indirect benefits of the better quality of life of those screened early, it can be argued that direct and indirect costs saved through early detection of these disorders are important enough to justify universal publicly-funded screening, especially in developing countries with high consanguinity rates, as shown through this data from Lebanon.
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Affiliation(s)
- I Khneisser
- Medical Genetic Unit, Saint-Joseph University, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - S Adib
- Epidemiology and Population Studies Department, Faculty of Health Sciences, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - S Assaad
- Faculty of Sciences, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - A Megarbane
- Medical Genetic Unit, Saint-Joseph University, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - P Karam
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, American University of Beirut- Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
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Therrell BL, Padilla CD, Loeber JG, Kneisser I, Saadallah A, Borrajo GJC, Adams J. Current status of newborn screening worldwide: 2015. Semin Perinatol 2015; 39:171-87. [PMID: 25979780 DOI: 10.1053/j.semperi.2015.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 347] [Impact Index Per Article: 38.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Newborn screening describes various tests that can occur during the first few hours or days of a newborn's life and have the potential for preventing severe health problems, including death. Newborn screening has evolved from a simple blood or urine screening test to a more comprehensive and complex screening system capable of detecting over 50 different conditions. While a number of papers have described various newborn screening activities around the world, including a series of papers in 2007, a comprehensive review of ongoing activities since that time has not been published. In this report, we divide the world into 5 regions (North America, Europe, Middle East and North Africa, Latin America, and Asia Pacific), assessing the current NBS situation in each region and reviewing activities that have taken place in recent years. We have also provided an extensive reference listing and summary of NBS and health data in tabular form.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bradford L Therrell
- National Newborn Screening and Genetics Resource Center (NNSGRC), Austin, TX; Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX.
| | - Carmencita David Padilla
- College of Medicine, University of the Philippines Manila, Manila, Philippines; Newborn Screening Reference Center, National Institutes of Health (Philippines), Manila, Ermita, Philippines
| | - J Gerard Loeber
- International Society for Neonatal Screening, Bilthoven, Netherlands
| | - Issam Kneisser
- Newborn Screening Unit, Medical Genetic Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Saint Joseph University, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Amal Saadallah
- Newborn Screening and Biochemical Genetics Laboratory, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Gustavo J C Borrajo
- Programa de Detección de Errores Congénitos, Fundación Bioquímica Argentina, La Plata, Argentina
| | - John Adams
- Canadian Organization for Rare Disorders, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Moorthie S, Cameron L, Sagoo GS, Bonham JR, Burton H. Systematic review and meta-analysis to estimate the birth prevalence of five inherited metabolic diseases. J Inherit Metab Dis 2014; 37:889-98. [PMID: 25022222 DOI: 10.1007/s10545-014-9729-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2014] [Revised: 05/23/2014] [Accepted: 05/28/2014] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Many newborn screening programmes now use tandem mass spectrometry in order to screen for a variety of diseases. However, countries have embraced this technology with a differing pace of change and for different conditions. This has been facilitated by the ability of this diagnostic method to limit analysis to specific metabolites of interest, enabling targeted screening for particular conditions. MS/MS was introduced in 2009 in England to implement newborn bloodspot screening for medium chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency (MCADD) raising the possibility of screening for other inherited metabolic disorders. Recently, a pilot screening programme was conducted in order to evaluate the health and economic consequences of screening for five additional inherited metabolic disorders in England. As part of this study we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to estimate the birth prevalence of these conditions: maple syrup urine disease, homocystinuria (pyridoxine unresponsive), glutaric aciduria type I, isovaleric acidaemia and long-chain 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency including trifunctional protein deficiency. We identified a total of 99 studies that were able to provide information on the prevalence of one or more of the disorders. The vast majority of studies were of screening programmes with some reporting on clinically detected cases.
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Nakouzi G, Kreidieh K, Yazbek S. A review of the diverse genetic disorders in the Lebanese population: highlighting the urgency for community genetic services. J Community Genet 2014; 6:83-105. [PMID: 25261319 DOI: 10.1007/s12687-014-0203-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2014] [Accepted: 09/16/2014] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
The review lists the genetic diseases reported in Lebanese individuals, surveys genetic programs and services, and highlights the absence of basic genetic health services at the individual and community level. The incidence of individual diseases is not determined, yet the variety of genetic diseases reported is tremendous, most of which follow autosomal recessive inheritance reflecting the social norms in the population, including high rates of consanguinity, which favor the increase in incidence of these diseases. Genetic services including all activities for the diagnosis, care, and prevention of genetic diseases at community level are extremely inadequate. Services are limited to some clinical and laboratory diagnostic services with no genetic counseling. These services are localized within the capital thus preventing their accessibility to high-risk communities. Screening programs, which are at the core of public health prevention services, are minimal and not nationally mandated. The absence of adequate genetic services is attributed to many factors undermining the importance of genetic diseases and their burden on society, the most important of which is genetic illiteracy at all levels of the population, including high-risk families, the general public, and most importantly health care providers and public health officials. Thus, a country like Lebanon, where genetic diseases are expected to be highly prevalent, is in utmost need for community genetics services. Strategies need to be developed to familiarize public health officials and medical professionals with medical genetics leading to a public health infrastructure that delivers community genetics services for the prevention and care of genetic disorders at community level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ghunwa Nakouzi
- Department of Clinical Pathology, Cleveland Clinic Hospital, Cleveland, OH, USA
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Karam PE, Habbal MZ, Mikati MA, Zaatari GE, Cortas NK, Daher RT. Diagnostic challenges of aminoacidopathies and organic acidemias in a developing country: A twelve-year experience. Clin Biochem 2013; 46:1787-92. [DOI: 10.1016/j.clinbiochem.2013.08.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2013] [Revised: 07/27/2013] [Accepted: 08/19/2013] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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Hoehn T, Lukacs Z, Stehn M, Mayatepek E, Philavanh K, Bounnack S. Establishment of the first newborn screening program in the People's Democratic Republic of Laos. J Trop Pediatr 2013; 59:95-9. [PMID: 23104563 DOI: 10.1093/tropej/fms057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The People's Democratic Republic of Laos belongs to the minority of countries worldwide without an established newborn bloodspot screening (NBS) system. METHODS In 2008, we initiated a pilot project of a neonatal screening system in the delivery suites of the Laotian capital, Vientiane. Samples were analysed for thyrotropin-stimulating hormone and 17-hydroxyprogesterone. RESULTS Altogether 11 362 samples were taken; an initially high recall rate dropped eventually to just above 4%. Two cases of hypothyroidism and one case of congenital adrenal hyperplasia were identified and received timely treatment. CONCLUSIONS In summary, we have demonstrated the feasibility of establishing an NBS system in a low-resource setting as prevalent in Laos. Obstacles for the establishment of a general NBS covering the whole country include the question of financial cover, treatment costs, and adequate teaching and supervision of technicians and doctors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Hoehn
- Neonatology and Paediatric Intensive Care Medicine, Department of General Paediatrics, Düsseldorf, Germany.
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Karam PE, Alhamra RS, Nemer G, Usta J. Spectrum of mutations in Lebanese patients with phenylalanine hydroxylase deficiency. Gene 2012; 515:117-22. [PMID: 23220018 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2012.11.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2012] [Revised: 11/15/2012] [Accepted: 11/20/2012] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Phenylketonuria is an autosomal recessive inborn error of metabolism resulting from phenylalanine hydroxylase deficiency. Genetic basis of phenylalanine hydroxylase deficiency has been reported in various European and Asian countries with few reports available in Arab populations of the Mediterranean region. This is the first pilot study describing phenotype and genotype of 23 Lebanese patients with phenylketonuria. 48% of the patients presented mainly with neurological signs at a mean age of 2 years 9 months, as newborn screening is not yet a nationwide policy. 56.5% of the patients had classical phenylketonuria. Thirteen different mutations were identified: splice site 52%, frameshift 31%, and missense 17% with no nonsense mutations. IVS10-11G>A was found mainly in Christians at high relative frequency whereas Muslims carried the G352fs and R261Q mutations. A rare splice mutation IVS7+1G>T, not described before, was identified in the homozygous state in one family with moderate phenylketonuria phenotype. Genotype-phenotype correlation using Guldberg arbitrary value method showed high consistency between predicted and observed phenotypes. Calculated homozygosity rate was 0.07 indicating the genetic heterogeneity in our patients. Our findings underline the admixture of different ethnicities and religions in Lebanon that might help tracing back the PAH gene flux history across the Mediterranean region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pascale E Karam
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent, American University Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, Beirut, Lebanon
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Padilla CD, Krotoski D, Therrell BL. Newborn screening progress in developing countries--overcoming internal barriers. Semin Perinatol 2010; 34:145-55. [PMID: 20207264 DOI: 10.1053/j.semperi.2009.12.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Newborn screening is an important public health measure aimed at early identification and management of affected newborns thereby lowering infant morbidity and mortality. It is a comprehensive system of education, screening, follow-up, diagnosis, treatment/management, and evaluation that must be institutionalized and sustained within public health systems often challenged by economic, political, and cultural considerations. As a result, developing countries face unique challenges in implementing and expanding newborn screening that can be grouped into the following categories: (1) planning, (2) leadership, (3) medical support, (4) technical support, (5) logistical support, (6) education, (7) protocol and policy development, (8) administration, (9) evaluation, and (10) sustainability. We review some of the experiences in overcoming implementation challenges in developing newborn screening programs, and discuss recent efforts to encourage increased newborn screening through support networking and information exchange activities in 2 regions-the Asia Pacific and the Middle East/North Africa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmencita D Padilla
- Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, University of the Philippines-Manila, Manila, Philippines.
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Pollitt RJ. Newborn blood spot screening: new opportunities, old problems. J Inherit Metab Dis 2009; 32:395-9. [PMID: 19412659 DOI: 10.1007/s10545-009-9962-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2009] [Revised: 03/06/2009] [Accepted: 03/18/2009] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Newborn screening is evolving very rapidly. Geographical coverage is expanding, particularly for common disorders such as congenital hypothyroidism. New technologies, particularly tandem mass spectrometry and high throughput mutation analysis, have increased greatly the range of disorders which could be covered. However, these new possibilities are being exploiting at very different rates in different countries. This is due in part to the different ways in which generally-accepted screening criteria, based on the ten principles of Wilson and Jungner, are being interpreted and applied to policy. The appropriate management of some of the conditions newly-detectable by screening also remains controversial and there is a pressing need to align screening policy and clinical practice. Critical analysis and careful collection of data on an international basis are required to resolve these issues.
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Affiliation(s)
- R J Pollitt
- Newborn Screening Laboratory, The Children's Hospital, Sheffield S10 2TH, UK.
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