Randomised controlled trials in child health in developing countries: trends and lessons over 11 years

• Published in: Archives of disease in childhood Vol. 99; no. 7; pp. 615 - 620
• Main Authors: Duke, Trevor, Fuller, David
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London BMJ Publishing Group 01.07.2014; BMJ Publishing Group Ltd; BMJ Publishing Group LTD
• Subjects: Allergies; Analysis; Biological and medical sciences; Body Weight; Breast feeding; Child; Child Development; Child Health; Child Welfare - statistics & numerical data; Children; Childrens health; Clinical trials; Developed Nations; Developing Countries; General aspects; Health aspects; Health promotion; Humans; Information Seeking; Intervention; LDCs; Malaria; Medical sciences; Mental health; Micronutrients; Miscellaneous; Mortality; Neonates; Nutrition; Prevention and actions; Public health; Public health. Hygiene; Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine; Randomized Controlled Trials; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic - statistics & numerical data; Search engines; Search strategies; Studies; Teaching Methods; Trends; Vector-borne diseases; Wellness programs; Human; Pediatrics; Developing countries; Trend; Clinical trial; Controlled therapeutic trial; Child; Randomized controlled trial; Public health
• ISSN: 0003-9888; 1468-2044; 1468-2044
• DOI: 10.1136/archdischild-2013-305702

Using a uniform systematic approach annually, we reviewed 1553 publications from randomised controlled trials in child health in developing countries published between July 2002 and June 2013. There were annual increases in such publications, from 38 in the 12 months to July 2003 to over 200 in each of 2012 and 2013. These trials involved children in 76 developing countries. Studies of nutrition (366 publications, 23.6%) and malaria (336 publications, 21%) predominated. 79% of nutrition trials have been of micronutrients (288 publications), with comparatively few publications related to macronutrient interventions or complimentary feeding (48 publications) or measures to improve breast feeding (20 publications). Trials of malaria have involved a comprehensive range of treatment and preventive strategies and have heralded the implementation of new interventions as routine health strategies, and reductions in malaria in each affected country in the world in the last decade. There have been a relatively small number of trials of interventions for treatment or prevention of acute respiratory infection (98 publications, 6.3%), neonatal health (64 publications, 4.1%) and tuberculosis in children (26 publications, 1.7%). In the last 5 years there has been increasing focus on non-communicable diseases such as asthma and allergy, obesity, diabetes and cardiac disease, and behavioural-developmental disorders. Mental health conditions have received little attention (21 publications, 1.4% of publications). There is increasing research activity and capacity in child health in developing countries. Some areas have been the subject of a large amount of research, and have led to the design and implementation of effective public health interventions and reduced disease burdens, while in other areas comprehensive approaches and the systematic application of research findings have been lacking.