Table 2.

Inclusion and exclusion criteria for assessing the studies relevant to birth cohorts in sub-Saharan Africa

Inclusion criteria	Exclusion criteria
Stage 1   • birth cohort/ longitudinal cohort         or cross-sectional study of longitudinal population         or qualitative review of birth cohort.   • low and middle income countries   • reporting primary results         or insight to methodology         or meta-analysis of studies	Stage 1 • enrolment at >10 y of age • primarily a pregnancy study limited to birth weight follow up
Stage 2      • country in WHO South Saharan African Region	Stage 2 –Quality criteria • minimum of 12 mo of follow up • minimum cohort size of 500 • less than 60 mo of age at induction