Rationale and approach to evaluating interventions for newborn care in low- and middle-income countries.

Introduction The neonatal period is the most vulnerable time in a child's life, contributing to almost half of all deaths in children under 5 years. Many of these deaths are preventable and are mainly caused by preterm birth, birth asphyxia, or serious infections. Over the past decade, the evidence base for interventions to prevent and manage these causes of neonatal mortality and morbidity in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) has expanded significantly.

Effectiveness of Neonatal Resuscitation Training Programs, Implementation, and Scale-Up in Low- and Middle-Income Countries.

Introduction: To describe recent evidence regarding the most effective neonatal resuscitation training program and scale-up of these programs in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), which has contributed to the upcoming Lancet Global Newborn Care Series 2025, and forms part of a supplement describing an extensive synthesis on effective newborn interventions in LMICs.

Methods: We included relevant studies from Medline, Embase, CINAHL, Cochrane CENTRAL and Global Index Medicus databases on the effectiveness and scale-up of Neonatal Resuscitation Training Programs (NRTP), with searches run August 2022. Data extraction and quality assessments were completed independently and in duplicate.

Supportive Care for Common Conditions in Small Vulnerable Newborns and Term Infants: The Evidence.

Introduction: Small vulnerable newborns (SVNs) are at an increased risk of early death and other morbidities. Essential interventions provided to SVN, and other high-risk newborns have been proven critical in improving their outcomes. We aimed to provide an update on the effectiveness and safety of these interventions in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

The Care of Preterm and Term Newborns with Respiratory Conditions: A Systematic Synthesis of Evidence from Low- and Middle-Income Countries.

Introduction: Neonatal respiratory conditions are leading causes of mortality and morbidity during the neonatal period. This review evaluated 11 management interventions for respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), apnoea of prematurity (AOP), meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS), transient tachypnea of the newborn (TTN), as well as bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) as a potential complication from respiratory care in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

Methods: Two different methodological approaches were completed: (1) updating outdated reviews and pooling all LMIC studies and (2) re-analysis of LMIC studies from up-to-date reviews.

Post-Asphyxial Aftercare and Management of Neonates in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic Evidence Synthesis.

Introduction: Effective post-resuscitation care is crucial for improving outcomes in neonates post-asphyxia. This review aimed to provide a comprehensive overview of post-asphyxial aftercare strategies and forms part of a supplement describing an extensive synthesis of effective newborn interventions in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

Methods: Evidence was generated by performing de novo reviews, updates to reviews via systematic searches, and reanalyses of studies conducted in LMICs from existing reviews.

Prevention and Treatment of Neonatal Infections in Facility and Community Settings of Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Descriptive Review.

Introduction: We present a robust and up-to-date synthesis of evidence on the effectiveness of interventions to prevent and treat newborn infections in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Newborn infection prevention interventions included strategies to reduce antimicrobial resistance (AMR), prevention of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), clean birth kits (CBKs), chlorhexidine cleansing, topical emollients, and probiotic and synbiotic supplementation. Interventions to treat suspected neonatal infections included prophylactic systemic antifungal agents and community-based antibiotic delivery for possible serious bacterial infections (PSBIs).

Digital Interventions for Universal Health Promotion in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review.

Background And Objectives: Digital media has been used mostly to deliver clinical treatments and therapies; however limited evidence evaluates digital interventions for health promotion. The objective of this review is to identify digital interventions for universal health promotion in school-aged children and adolescents globally.

Methods: Eligible articles were searched in PubMed, Embase, Medline, Ovid SP, The Cochrane Library, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, WHO regional databases, Google Scholar, and reference lists from 2000 to March 2021.

Interventions to Promote Physical Activity and Healthy Digital Media Use in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review.

Objectives: To identify effective interventions that promote healthy screen time use and reduce sedentary behavior in school-age children and adolescents (SACA) in all settings, over the last 20 years.

Methods: Searches were conducted from 2000 until March 2021 using PubMed, Embase, Medline, PsycINFO, Ovid SP, The Cochrane Library, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Cochrane Methodology Register, and the WHO regional databases, including Google Scholar and reference lists of relevant articles and reviews. Randomized-controlled trials and quasi-experimental studies assessing interventions to reduce sedentary behaviors and screen time in healthy SACA (aged 5-19.

Mental Health and Positive Development Prevention Interventions: Overview of Systematic Reviews.

Context: Previous reviews of mental health interventions have focused on adolescents (10-19 years), with a paucity of comprehensive evidence syntheses on preventive interventions for school-aged children (5-10 years).

Objective: To summarize and synthesize the available evidence from systematic reviews of mental health and positive development interventions for children aged 5-14.9 years in both high-income (HIC) and low- and middle-income countries (LMIC), with a focus on preventive and promotive strategies.

Interventions for Health and Well-Being in School-Aged Children and Adolescents: A Way Forward.

The health and well-being of school-aged children has received little attention compared with younger children aged < 5 years and adolescents. In this final article in a supplement of reviews that have assessed the effectiveness of interventions for school-aged children across a variety of health-related domains (including infectious diseases, noncommunicable diseases, healthy lifestyle, mental health, unintentional injuries, and sexual and reproductive health), we summarize the main findings and offer a way forward for future research, policy, and implementation. We complement this evidence base on interventions with a summary of the literature related to enabling policies and intersectoral actions supporting school-aged child health.

Prevention and Management of High-Burden Noncommunicable Diseases in School-Age Children: A Systematic Review.

Background And Objectives: Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are chronic conditions requiring health care, education, social and community services, addressing prevention, treatment, and management. This review aimed to summarize and synthesize the available evidence on interventions from systematic reviews of high-burden NCDs and risk factors among school-aged children.

Methods: The following databases were used for this research: Medline, Embase, The Cochrane Library, and the Campbell library.

Delivery Strategies Supporting School-Age Child Health: A Systematic Review.

Context: School-aged children (SAC; 5-9 years) remain understudied in global efforts to examine intervention effectiveness and scale up evidence-based interventions.

Objective: This review summarizes the available evidence describing the effectiveness of key strategies to deliver school-age interventions.

Data Sources: We searched Medline, PsycINFO, Campbell Collaboration, and The Cochrane Library during November 2020.

Improving health and social systems for all children in LMICs: structural innovations to deliver high-quality services.

Despite health gains over the past 30 years, children and adolescents are not reaching their health potential in many low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). In addition to health systems, social systems, such as schools, communities, families, and digital platforms, can be used to promote health. We did a targeted literature review of how well health and social systems are meeting the needs of children in LMICs using the framework of The Lancet Global Health Commission on high-quality health systems and we reviewed evidence for structural reforms in health and social sectors.

What can work and how? An overview of evidence-based interventions and delivery strategies to support health and human development from before conception to 20 years.

Progress has been made globally in improving the coverage of key maternal, newborn, and early childhood interventions in low-income and middle-income countries, which has contributed to a decrease in child mortality and morbidity. However, inequities remain, and many children and adolescents are still not covered by life-saving and nurturing care interventions, despite their relatively low costs and high cost-effectiveness. This Series paper builds on a large body of work from the past two decades on evidence-based interventions and packages of care for survival, strategies for delivery, and platforms to reach the most vulnerable.

Health and development from preconception to 20 years of age and human capital.

Optimal health and development from preconception to adulthood are crucial for human flourishing and the formation of human capital. The Nurturing Care Framework, as adapted to age 20 years, conceptualises the major influences during periods of development from preconception, through pregnancy, childhood, and adolescence that affect human capital. In addition to mortality in children younger than 5 years, stillbirths and deaths in 5-19-year-olds are important to consider.

Drivers of stunting reduction in Peru: a country case study.

Background: Peru reduced its under-5 child stunting prevalence notably from 31.3% in 2000 to 13.1% in 2016.

Stunting in childhood: an overview of global burden, trends, determinants, and drivers of decline.

Background: Progress has been made worldwide in reducing chronic undernutrition and rates of linear growth stunting in children under 5 y of age, although rates still remain high in many regions. Policies, programs, and interventions supporting maternal and child health and nutrition have the potential to improve child growth and development.

Objective: This article synthesizes the available global evidence on the drivers of national declines in stunting prevalence and compares the relative effect of major drivers of stunting decline between countries.

How countries can reduce child stunting at scale: lessons from exemplar countries.

Background: Child stunting and linear growth faltering have declined over the past few decades and several countries have made exemplary progress.

Objectives: To synthesize findings from mixed methods studies of exemplar countries to provide guidance on how to accelerate reduction in child stunting.

Methods: We did a qualitative and quantitative synthesis of findings from existing literature and 5 exemplar country studies (Nepal, Ethiopia, Peru, Kyrgyz Republic, Senegal).

Drivers of stunting reduction in the Kyrgyz Republic: A country case study.

Background: Chronic malnutrition among infants and children continues to represent a global public health concern. The Kyrgyz Republic has achieved rapid declines in stunting over the last 20 y, despite modest increases in gross domestic product per capita.

Objective: This study aimed to conduct a systematic, in-depth assessment of national, community, household, and individual drivers of nutrition change and stunting reduction, as well as nutrition-specific and -sensitive policies and programs, in the Kyrgyz Republic.

Understanding multifactorial drivers of child stunting reduction in Exemplar countries: a mixed-methods approach.

Background: Several countries have notably reduced childhood stunting relative to economic growth over the past 15-20 y. The Exemplars in Stunting Reduction project, or "Exemplars," studies success factors among these countries with a lens toward replicability.

Objectives: This paper details the standardized mixed-methods framework for studying determinants of childhood stunting reduction applied in Exemplars studies.