Table 2.

Quality assessment

Randomized control trials
Sr N	Study characteristics		Zurovac et al [36]		Donovan et al [35]			Li Chen et al [39]		Zakus et al [34]					Davis et al [37]		Talisuna et al [38]
1.	Randomization		Y		Y			Y		Y					Y		Y
2.	Allocation concealment		Y		N			U		U					Y		Y
3.	Blinding		Y (Nn- blinding of treatment providers and outcome assessors)		N			U		U					Y (Nn- blinding of treatment providers and outcome assessors)		N
4.	Follow up complete		Y		U			Y		U					Y		Y
5.	Reliable outcome measurement with use of appropriate analysis		Y		Y			Y		Y					Y		Y
Quasi-experimental studies
	Study characteristics		Xeuatvongsa et al [45]	Tumusiime et al [43]		Kabakyenga K et al [44]					Ndiaye et al [40]			Finette et al [42]			Boyce et al [41]	Ismail et al [50]	Althaus et al [52]
1.	Clarity on cause and effect		Y	Y		Y					Y			Y			Y	Y	Y
2.	Inclusion of control		Y	N		N					N			Y			Y	N	Y
3.	Similarity of comparisons		Y	Y		U					N			Y			Y	U	Y
4.	Measurement of both outcome and exposure		U	Y		U					U			U			Y	Y	Y
5.	Complete follow up		U	U		U					Y			U			U	U	U
6.	Reliable outcome measurement with use of appropriate analysis		Y	N		N					Y			Y			Y	Y	Y
Qualitative studies +1 mixed method (Richards et al [52])
	Study characteristics	Jones et al [48]			Ginsburg et al [46]		Bessat et al [47]		Ide et al [41]				Ginsburg et al [51]			Svege et al [39]	Richards et al [52]
1.	Congruity b/w research methodology and research question	Y			Y		Y		Y				Y			Y	Y
2.	Congruity b/w research methodology and data collection methods	Y			Y		Y		Y				U			Y	N
3.	Congruity b/w research methodology and data analysis	U			Y		Y		Y				Y			Y	Y
4.	Congruity b/w research methodology and result interpretation	Y			Y		Y		Y				Y			Y	Y
5.	Researcher influence addressed	N			Y		N		N				N			N	N
6.	Participant voices represented	Y			Y		Y		Y				Y			Y	Y
Cross-sectional studies +1 mixed method
	Study characteristics											Richards et al [52]
1.	Clearly defined inclusion criteria											U
2.	Detailed description of study setting and study subjects											Y
3.	Valid and reliable measurement of exposure											U
4.	Use of objective, standard criteria for measurement of condition											U
5.	Identification of confounding factors											N
6.	Reliable outcome measurement with use of appropriate analysis											U
Cohort studies
	Study characteristics											Meyers et al [51]
1.	Similarity among two groups and recruitment from same population											N
2.	Similarity in exposure measurement											Y
3.	Valid and reliable measurement of exposure											Y
4.	Identification of confounding factors											U
5.	Valid and reliable measurement of outcome											Y
6.	Follow up complete											N
7.	Reliable outcome measurement with use of appropriate analysis											Y
Cost evaluation
	Study characteristics											Zurovac et al [53]
1.	Well defined question											Y
2.	Comprehensive description of alternatives											Y
3.	Identification of all important and relevant costs and outcomes for each alternative											Y
4.	Established clinical effectiveness											U
5.	Accurate measurement of costs and outcomes											Y
6.	Costs and outcomes valued credibly											Y
7.	Costs and outcomes adjusted for differential timing											U
8.	Incremental analysis of costs and consequences											Y
9.	Study results include all issues of concern to users											U
10.	Generalizable results											Y

*Yes – present, No – absent, U – unable to identify