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Globalization and Health
Published in: Globalization and Health 1/2020

Open Access 01-12-2020 | Review

A systematic review of global health capacity building initiatives in low-to middle-income countries in the Middle East and North Africa region

Authors: Hady Naal, Maria El Koussa, Melissa El Hamouch, Layal Hneiny, Shadi Saleh

Published in: Globalization and Health | Issue 1/2020

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Abstract

Introduction

Low-and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs) in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region are facing increasing global health challenges with a reduced ability to manage them. Global Health Capacity Building (GHCB) initiatives have the potential to improve health workforce performance and health outcomes, however little is known about the GHCB topics and approaches implemented in this region. This is the first systematic review of GHCB initiatives among LMICs in the MENA region.

Methods

An academic database search of Medline (OVID), PubMed, Scopus, Embase.​com, and Open Grey was conducted for articles published between January 2009 and September 2019 in English. Next, a grey literature search following a recommended search framework was conducted. Reviewed records addressed a global health topic, had a capacity building component, looked at specific learning outcomes, and reflected an LMIC in the MENA. Primary outcomes included country, topic, modality, pedagogy, and population.

Results

Reports of GHCB initiatives were retrieved from grey sources (73.2%) and academic sources (26.8%). Most GHCB initiatives were mainly conducted face-to-face (94.4%) to professional personnel (57.5%) through a theoretical pedagogical approach (44.3%). Dominant global health themes were non-communicable diseases (29.2%), sexual and reproductive health (18.4%), and mental health (14.5%). When matched against the Global Burden of Disease data, important gaps were found regarding the topics of GHCB initiatives in relation to the region’s health needs. There were limited reports of GHCB initiatives addressing conflict and emergency topics, and those addressing non-communicable disease topics were primarily reported from Egypt and Iran.

Conclusion

Innovative and practicum-based approaches are needed for GHCB initiatives among LMICs in the MENA region, with a focus on training community workers. Regional and country-specific analyses of GHCB initiatives relative to their health needs are discussed in the manuscript based on the results of this review.
Appendix
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Metadata
Title
A systematic review of global health capacity building initiatives in low-to middle-income countries in the Middle East and North Africa region
Authors
Hady Naal
Maria El Koussa
Melissa El Hamouch
Layal Hneiny
Shadi Saleh
Publication date
01-12-2020
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Globalization and Health / Issue 1/2020
Electronic ISSN: 1744-8603
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12992-020-00585-0

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