Table 6.

Summary of recommendations for future efforts in standardization of AEFI definitions.

Recommendation 1. Case definitions should be of sufficient detail and consistency of language to avoid ambiguity with respect to:	- Cut-offs/thresholds defining related AEs - Severity strata - Physiological or other evaluative criteria - Diagnostic methodology - Definition of key terms (e.g., gestational age as weeks of amenorrhea or as weeks post-conception)
Recommendation 2. Effort should be made to encourage the following qualities:	- Consistent reporting in Section 2 of AE definitions used or specific classification schemes/codes (e.g., ICD-9 codes) in all studies - Consistent reporting in results of all AEs defined
Recommendation 3. Explore the use of frequency analysis to inform standardization efforts where multiple case definitions for a given AE are available
Recommendation 4. Prioritize appropriate standardization for future studies over “back-compatibility” with definitions in previous studies, given the substantial variability in existing definitions