TABLE 3.
Studies meeting the inclusion criteria of the scoping review (Definitions of severity in treatment seeking studies of febrile illness in children in low and middle income countries: a scoping review, Switzerland, 2021).
| First author and year of publication | Country | Context | Disease | Method | Enrolment | SFI definition a | Inclusion criteria b | Treatment seeking outcome indicator c | Concept of severity d |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adedire (2015) | Nigeria | Rural | Fever | Mixed methods | Provider | 6, 8 | 1, 2, 8, 9 | 2 | 2 |
| Agyepong (1994) | Ghana | Rural + Urban | Malaria | Qualitative | Community | 6 | NA | NA | NA |
| Ahorlu (2005) | Ghana | Rural | Malaria | Mixed methods | Community | 5 | 1 | 1, 4, 5 | 1 |
| Ajayi et al [30] | Burkina Faso, Nigeria, Uganda | Rural | Malaria | Quantitative | Provider | 2 | 1, 6, 7, 8, 9 | 1, 3, 4, 5 | 6 |
| Akogun et al. [31] | Nigeria | Rural | Malaria | Qualitative | Community | 5 | NA | NA | NA |
| Amuyunzu (2006) | Keya | Urban | Pneumonia/ARI | Qualitative | Community | 8 | NA | NA | NA |
| Anaba et al. [32] | Nigeria | Unknown | Pneumonia/ARI | Quantitative | Community | 6 | 1, 8 | 2 | 2 |
| Awasthi (2015) | India | Rural | Pneumonia/ARI | Qualitative | Provider | 2, 6 | NA | NA | NA |
| Bantie (2019) | Ethiopia | Rural + Urban | Pneumonia/ARI | Quantitative | Provider | 1 | 1, 4, 8, 9 | 5 | 2 |
| Baume et al. [33] | Zambia | Rural + Urban | Malaria | Mixed methods | Community | 8 | 1, 2, 5, 8 | 1, 4 | 1 |
| Beiersmann et al. [34] | Burkina Faso | Rural | Malaria | Mixed methods | Community | 3, 5 | 1, 3, 6, 7 | 1, 4 | 4 |
| Bruce (2014) | Guatemala | Rural | Pneumonia/ARI | Quantitative | Community | 2 | 1, 4, 5, 6, 8 | 2, 5 | 3 |
| Burton (2011) | Kenya | Rural | Fever | Quantitative | Community | 2 | 1, 2, 4, 5, 8 | 2 | 2 |
| Chibwana et al. [35] | Malawi | Rural | Malaria | Qualitative | Community | 8 | NA | NA | NA |
| Comoro (2003) | Tanzania | Rural + Urban | Malaria | Qualitative | Provider | 5 | NA | NA | NA |
| Dada (2007) | Nigeria | Urban | Malaria | Quantitative | Provider | 4 | 1, 2, 3, 8, 9 | 5 | 5 |
| de Savigny et al. [36] | Tanzania | Rural | Malaria | Mixed methods | Community | 3, 5 | 1, 3, 5, 6, 7 | 1, 4 | 4 |
| Desmond (2013) | Malawi | Urban | Meningitis | Qualitative | Community + Provider | 8 | NA | NA | NA |
| Deutscher (2012) | Kenya, Guatemala, Thailand | Rural + Urban | Pneumonia/ARI | Quantitative | Community | 2 | 1, 4, 5, 6, 8 | 2 | 3 |
| Dillip et al. [37] | Tanzania | Rural + Urban | Malaria | Mixed methods | Community | 5 | 1, 2, 5, 8 | 2, 5 | 1, 3 |
| Dillip et al. [38] | Tanzania | Rural + Urban | Malaria | Mixed methods | Community | 5 | 1, 5, 6, 8 | 2, 5 | 3 |
| Do et al. [39] | Madagascar, Mali, Nigeria | Rural + Urban | Malaria | Quantitative | Community | 6 | 1, 2, 5, 8 | 2 | 2 |
| Druetz et al. [40] | Burkina Faso | Rural + Urban | Malaria | Quantitative | Community | 2 | 1, 5, 8 | 2 | 2 |
| Elimian (2020) | Nigeria | Urban | Pneumonia/ARI, Malaria | Qualitative | Provider | 6 | NA | NA | NA |
| Ellis et al. [18] | Mali | Rural | Malaria | Mixed methods | Community | 2 | 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 8 | 1, 4 | 3 |
| Escribano-Ferrer et al.. [41] | Ghana | Rural | Malaria | Quantitative | Community | 4 | 1, 2, 4, 5, 8 | 5 | 3 |
| Ewing (2015) | Malawi | Rural + Urban | Malaria | Qualitative | Community | 5 | NA | NA | NA |
| Ferdous (2014) | Bangladesh | Rural | Pneumonia/ARI | Qualitative | Provider | 8 | NA | NA | NA |
| Ferdous (2018) | Bangladesh | Rural | Pneumonia/ARI | Quantitative | Community | 3 | 1, 6, 7 | 1, 5 | 5 |
| Foster and Vildendrer [42] | Tanzania | Rural + Urban | Malaria | Qualitative | Community | 5 | NA | NA | NA |
| Hausmann-Muela (2000) | Tanzania | Urban | Malaria | Mixed methods | Community | 5 | 1 | 4 | 3 |
| Hildenwall (2008) | Uganda | Rural | Pneumonia/ARI, Malaria | Mixed methods | Community | 3 | 1, 2, 5, 6, 7 | 1, 4, 5 | 4 |
| Hildenwall (2009a) | Uganda | Urban | Pneumonia/ARI | Quantitative | Provider | 2 | 1, 4, 6, 8, 9 | 1, 5 | 3 |
| Hildenwall (2009b) | Uganda | Urban | Pneumonia/ARI | Quantitative | Provider | 2 | 1, 4, 6, 7, 8, 10 | 1, 4 | 5 |
| Houéto (2007) | Benin | Rural | Malaria | Qualitative | Community | 7, 8 | NA | NA | NA |
| Kaatano (2006) | Tanzania | Rural | Malaria | Quantitative | Community | 4 | 1, 2, 5, 8 | 1, 4 | 1 |
| Kamat [43] | Tanzania | Urban | Malaria | Qualitative | Provider | 5, 6, 7 | NA | NA | NA |
| Kamat (2008) | Tanzania | Urban | Malaria | Mixed methods | Community + Provider | 1, 5 | 1, 9 | 4 | 3 |
| Kaona (2005) | Zambia | Rural | Malaria | Qualitative | Community + Provider | 5 | NA | NA | NA |
| Kapoor (1990) | India | Rural | Pneumonia/ARI | Quantitative | Community | 4 | 1, 8 | 1 | 1 |
| Kassam et al. [44] | Uganda | Rural + Urban | Malaria | Quantitative | Community | 6 | 1, 2, 5, 8 | 1 | 1 |
| Kassam et al. [45] | Uganda | Rural + Urban | Malaria | Qualitative | Community | 3 | NA | NA | NA |
| Kassile et al. [46] | Tanzania | Rural + Urban | Malaria | Quantitative | Community | 6 | 1, 2, 5, 8 | 5 | 2 |
| Kerai (2019) | Pakistan | Urban | Pneumonia/ARI | Quantitative | Community | 2 | 1, 5, 8 | 1, 4 | 1, 2 |
| Kosai (2015) | Phillipines | Rural + Urban | Pneumonia/ARI | Quantitative | Community | 2 | 1, 4, 7, 8 | 2 | 1, 3 |
| Källander (2008) | Uganda | Rural | Pneumonia/ARI | Quantitative | Community | 3 | 1, 4, 6, 7 | 1, 4, 5 | 4 |
| Lindblade (2000) | Uganda | Rural | Malaria | Quantitative | Community | 8 | 1, 2, 8 | 2, 5 | 2 |
| Luque (2008) | Ecuador | Rural | Pneumonia/ARI | Mixed methods | Community | 4 | 1 | 4 | 1 |
| Makundi (2006) | Tanzania | Unknown | Malaria | Qualitative | Community | 5 | NA | NA | NA |
| Malik (2006) | Sudan | Rural | Malaria | Qualitative | Provider | 8 | NA | NA | NA |
| Mayombana (2004) | Tanzania | Rural | Malaria | Mixed methods | Community | 5 | 1, 2, 8 | 1, 4 | 1 |
| McNee (1995) | Phillipines | Unknown | Pneumonia/ARI | Qualitative | Community | 2, 5, 8 | NA | NA | NA |
| Mitiku and Assefa [47] | Ethiopia | Rural + Urban | Malaria | Quantitative | Community | 6 | 1, 2, 5, 8 | 2 | 2 |
| Müller et al. [48] | Burkina Faso | Rural + Urban | Malaria | Quantitative | Community | 3, 4 | 1, 2, 7, 8 | 2 | 1, 4 |
| Munthali (2003) | Malawi | Rural | Malaria | Qualitative | Community | 5 | NA | NA | NA |
| Munthali (2005) | Malawi | Rural | Malaria | Qualitative | Community | 5 | NA | NA | NA |
| Muro (2017) | Tanzania | Urban | Pneumonia/ARI | Qualitative | Community + Provider | 8 | NA | NA | NA |
| Naheed (2019) | Bangladesh | Rural + Urban | Pneumonia/ARI | Quantitative | Provider | 2 | 1, 4, 7, 8, 10 | 2 | 5 |
| Najnin (2011) | Bangladesh | Urban | Fever | Quantitative | Community | 4 | 1, 2, 5, 8 | 2, 4, 5 | 2 |
| Nsungwa (2004) | Uganda | Rural | Malaria | Qualitative | Community | 5 | NA | NA | NA |
| Okeke (2010a) | Nigeria | Rural | Malaria | Mixed methods | Community | 4 | 1, 2, 5, 8 | 1, 4 | 1 |
| Okeke (2010b) | Nigeria | Rural + Urban | Malaria | Qualitative | Community | 5 | NA | NA | NA |
| Oluchi et al. [49] | Nigeria | Unknown | Malaria | Quantitative | Community | 1, 2, 5, 8 | 2, 5 | 2 | |
| Onyango (2012) | Kenya | Rural + Urban | Pneumonia/ARI | Quantitative | Provider | 2 | 1, 4, 8, 9 | 5 | 5 |
| Rashid (2001) | Bangladesh | Rural | Pneumonia/ARI | Qualitative | Community | 4, 5 | NA | NA | NA |
| Salah (2007) | Sudan | Urban | Malaria | Quantitative | Community | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Sankarapandian (2011) | India | Urban | Pneumonia/ARI | Quantitative | Community | 2 | 1, 5, 8 | 4 | 1 |
| Simba (2009) | Tanzania | Rural | Malaria | Quantitative | Provider | 2, 4 | 1, 3, 6, 8, 11 | 3, 4 | 2, 3 |
| Simba (2010) | Tanzania | Rural | Malaria | Qualitative | Community | 2 | NA | NA | NA |
| Siribié et al. [50] | Burkina Faso, Nigeria, Uganda | Rural | Malaria | Mixed methods | Community + Provider | 2 | 1, 2, 6, 7, 8, 11 | 3, 4, 5 | 6 |
| Snavely et al. [51] | Tanzania | Rural + Urban | Fever | Quantitative | Provider | 2, 3 | 1, 2, 7, 8, 10 | 1, 4, 5 | 5 |
| Straus 2011 | Mozambique | Rural | Pneumonia/ARI | Qualitative | Community + Provider | 4 | NA | NA | NA |
| Taffa and Chepngeno [52] | Kenya | Urban | Fever | Quantitative | Community | 6 | 1, 5, 8 | 2 | 1 |
| Tarimo (2000) | Tanzania | Rural | Malaria | Quantitative | Provider | 4 | 1, 2, 8, 9 | 1, 4 | 1 |
| Thomson (2011) | Sierra Leone | Rural | Malaria | Quantitative | Provider | 4 | 1, 3, 8, 11 | 3, 5 | 1 |
| Tinuade et al. [53] | Nigeria | Unknown | Fever | Quantitative | Provider | 1, 6 | 6, 7, 8, 10 | 5 | 4 |
| Tsukahara et al. [54] | PNG | Rural | Malaria | Quantitative | Community | 6 | 1, 2, 5, 8 | 1, 4 | 2 |
| Ustrup (2014) | Malawi | Rural + Urban | Pneumonia/ARI, Malaria | Quantitative | Community | 2 | 1, 2, 4, 5, 8 | 2 | 2 |
| Vaahtera (2000) | Malawi | Rural | Pneumonia/ARI, Malaria | Quantitative | Community | 3 | 2, 4, 5, 7, 8 | 2 | 5 |
| Vermeersch (2014) | Guinea-Bissau | Rural | Malaria | Mixed methods | Community | 4 | 1, 6 | 1, 4 | 3 |
| Warsame et al. [55] | Tanzania | Rural | Malaria | Qualitative | Provider | 2, 4, 5 | NA | NA | NA |
| Yadav (2010) | India | Rural | Malaria | Mixed methods | Provider | 4 | 1, 2, 5, 8, 9 | 1, 4, 5 | 1 |
a
SFI definitions: 1 = Clinical management, 2 = Guidelines, 3 = Disease outcome, 4 = Symptoms - biomedical, 5 = Local illness concept, 6 = Perception, 7 = Treatment failure, 8 = Symptoms - caregiver.
b
Inclusion criteria: 1 = Age, 2 = (History of) fever, 3 = Malaria diagnosis, 4 = Pneumonia diagnosis, 5 = Recall period, 6 = Severe illness only, 7 = Dead, 8 = Alive, 9 = Attendance (provider enrolment), 10 = Admission (provider enrolment), 11 = Referred (provider enrolment).
c
Treatment seeking outcomes: 1 = Treatment seeking proportion, 2 = Dichotomous outcomes, 3 = Referral adherence, 4 = Treatment sources, 5 = Delay.
d
Concept of severity: SFI explaining treatment seeking: 1 = Mild vs. severe, no covariates, 2 = Mild vs. severe, with covariates, 3 = Severe only; Treatment seeking explaining SFI: 4 = Severe only, 5 = Mild vs. severe; Absence of causal direction: 6 = Inclusion criteria, no concept of severity.