Evidence to inform resource allocation for tuberculosis control in Myanmar: a systematic review based on the SYSRA...

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Health Systems Research
• Infectious Disease Epidemiology

Background:

• Myanmar faces challenges in resource allocation for public health due to limited information.
• Significant international funding targets infectious diseases like tuberculosis (TB) in Myanmar.
• There is a lack of synthesized research on TB control and the health system in Myanmar.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct the first systematic literature review on tuberculosis control and the health system in Myanmar.
• To identify research gaps and inform optimal research priorities and strategies for the country.
• To guide international donor community support for health system strengthening and capacity building.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature review of Medline and grey literature.
• Inclusion criteria focused on Myanmar's health system, healthcare delivery, financing, TB control indicators, and information systems.
• Analysis of 77 included papers.

Main Results:

• A notable increase in TB-related publications on Myanmar in the past decade, though the absolute number of studies remains low.
• Identified significant evidence gaps in research concerning rural/vulnerable populations.
• Lack of studies on TB and drug resistance risk factors, and economic analyses for resource allocation optimization.

Conclusions:

• The study highlights critical research gaps hindering evidence-based policy and resource allocation for TB control in Myanmar.
• Findings underscore the need for targeted research to address specific vulnerabilities and optimize public health investments.
• Identified research gaps may be relevant for other low-resource settings with limited research capacity.