Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38964879›Full record

SynthesisBMJ global health2024

Twenty years of herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) research in low-income and middle-income countries: systematic evaluation of progress made in addressing WHO prioritiesfor research in HSV-2 epidemiology and diagnostics.

Muna Jama, Ela Mair Owen, Belinder Nahal, Angela Obasi, Emily Clarke

Abstract readHistorical ArticleSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in BMJ global health, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Review
  5. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Muna JamaLiverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK muna.jama@rescue.org.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0000-1303-5286
Ela Mair OwenLiverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0002-6213-6803
Belinder NahalUniversity of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.
Angela ObasiDepartment of International Public Health, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6801-8889
Emily ClarkeUniversity of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9340-1417

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionLow-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) have a high burden of herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) infection, which has been strongly associated with HIV. In 2001, the WHO hosted a workshop to set research priorities for HSV-2 in LMICs. Periodic re-evaluation of research priorities is essential to ensure effective allocation of resources. This study describes the progress made between 2000 and 2020 in addressing the priorities identified in two of the five thematic areas that were the workshop's focus: HSV-2 epidemiology and diagnostics. The remaining areas are addressed in a companion paper.

methodsA systematic search of MEDLINE, CINAHL, Global Health and Cochrane databases was carried out. Relevant primary and secondary research studies conducted in LMICs, written in English and published from 2000-2020 were included. Two independent researchers screened, identified papers and extracted preidentified variables from study texts. Data were organised into an Excel spreadsheet and analysed using IBM SPSS V.26.

resultsOverall, 4445 discrete papers were identified, of which 165 publications were eligible for inclusion. The highest general population HSV-2 prevalence was reported in South and West Africa. Prevalence was higher among women than men and increased with age. HSV-2 prevalence studies among key populations were few, and the majority were in East and South Asia. Cohort studies of HSV-2 incidence among younger populations (mean age=25 years) and HSV-2 infection prevalence in North Africa and the Middle East were few. The most researched topic in HSV-2 diagnostics addressed serological techniques and direct molecular biology. Studies of point-of-care testing were also few.

conclusionHSV-2 research identified in LMICs has mainly addressed the epidemiology and diagnostics priorities identified by the 2001 WHO workshop. Unaddressed priorities include point-of-care testing, antiviral resistance and exploration of HSV-2 epidemiology in neglected geographical settings and population subgroups.

Indexed as

Developing CountriesHerpes GenitalisHerpesvirus 2, HumanFemaleHerpes SimplexHumansMalePrevalenceWorld Health OrganizationDiagnostics and toolsEpidemiologyPublic Health

Identifiers

PMID38964879
PMCPMC11227754

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.