Food additives and their health implications on children in Africa: a systematic review

Objective: The safety of processed foods is an issue of public health importance, especially in Africa where there is unchecked rate at which many food industries turn out novel 'chemicals' aimed at increasing the acceptability of their products. This is particularly true for processed foods targeted at children, who remain the most vulnerable group. The aim of this review was to identify health implications of food additives on children in Africa based on findings from original research works. Methods: We conducted a parallel search of Medline, EMBASE and Global Health for relevant studies from 1970 to 2014. We included studies conducted among African populations reporting effects of food additives among children (under age 17 years). Data on health implications of food additives were extracted and reviewed. Results: Our search returned 479 studies, with only 4 studies meeting the selection criteria. Five countries were represented, namely Libya, Nigeria, Uganda, Tanzania and Sudan The total study population was 3326. All the studies were cross-sectional, and focused essentially on sugar as an important risk factor for the development of dental caries and/or erosion in children. Conclusions: Studies on important food additives such as preservatives, colouring agents, sweeteners, anti-caking agents and their effects on health of children are largely unavailable in Africa, although anecdotal reports are suggestive of their deleterious effects. To ensure evidenced-based decision making and public policies in this regard, there is a need for original research works

An estimate of the prevalence of epilepsy in Sub-Saharan Africa:A systematic analysis

Epilepsy is a leading serious neurological condition worldwide and has particularly significant physical, economic and social consequences in Sub–Saharan Africa. This paper aims to contribute to the understanding of epilepsy prevalence in this region and how this varies by age and sex so as to inform understanding of the disease characteristics as well as the development of infrastructure, services and policies

Interventions addressing risk factors of ischaemic heart disease in sub-Saharan Africa:A systematic review

Background: Ischaemic heart disease (IHD) is currently ranked eighth among the leading causes of deaths in sub-Saharan Africa (sSA). Yet, effective population-wide preventive measures targeting risks in the region are still largely unavailable. We aimed to review population-wide and individual-level interventions addressing risk factors of IHD among adults in sSA. Methods: A systematic search of MEDLINE, EMBASE, Global Health and AJOL was conducted to identify studies focusing on population-wide and individuallevel interventions targeting risks of IHD among adults in sSA. We conducted a detailed synthesis of basic findings of selected studies. Results: A total of 2311 studies were identified, with only 9 studies meeting our selection criteria. 3 broad interventions were identified: dietary modifications, physical activity and community-based health promotion measures on tobacco and alcohol cessation. 3 studies reported significant reduction in blood pressure (BP), and another study reported statistically significant reduction in mean total cholesterol. Other outcome measures observed ranged from mild to no reduction in BP, blood glucose, body mass index and total cholesterol, respectively. Conclusions: We cannot specify with all certainty contextually feasible interventions that can be effective in modifying IHD risk factors in population groups across sSA. We recommend more research on IHD, particularly on the understanding of the burden, geared towards developing and/or strengthening preventive and treatment interventions for the disease in sS