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Pediatric Traumatic Brain Injury in the Middle East and North Africa Region: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis to
Samar Al-Hajj1, Sarah H Farran2, Batoul Dekmak2
1Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon.
Insights
Pediatric traumatic brain injuries (pTBI) are a significant concern in the MENA region, with motor vehicle accidents and child abuse being leading causes. This review highlights the high mortality rate and severity of pTBI in children.
Area of Science:
- * Neuroscience and Public Health
- * Pediatric Traumatology and Injury Prevention
Background:
- * Pediatric traumatic brain injury (pTBI) is a critical public health issue in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.
- * Understanding the epidemiology, severity, and outcomes of pTBI is crucial for developing effective interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- * To comprehensively review and assess pediatric traumatic brain injuries (pTBI) within the MENA region.
- * To report on the clinical severity, common causes, and outcomes of pTBI in this population.
- * To identify risk factors and inform strategies for pTBI prevention and child well-being.
Main Methods:
- * Systematic literature search across major electronic databases (Medline/Ovid, PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, SCOPUS).
- * Screening of abstracts and full-text articles to identify original research on pTBI in the MENA region.
- * Data extraction included injury mechanisms, demographics, assessment tools, severity, and outcomes.
Main Results:
- * A total of 32 studies were included, predominantly featuring male patients (78%).
- * Leading causes of pTBI were motor vehicle accidents and child abuse.
- * High rates of severe (16.25%) and unclassified (82.27%) injuries were noted, with a significant mortality rate of 13.11%.
Conclusions:
- * Pediatric traumatic brain injury poses a significant threat in the MENA region, with concerning rates of severe injuries and mortality.
- * The prevalence of child abuse as a cause of pTBI requires urgent attention and targeted prevention strategies.
- * Further research and policy development are essential to reduce pTBI incidence and improve child safety and well-being.
Abstract:
Pediatric traumatic brain injury (pTBI) represents a major cause of child injuries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. This review aims to assess pTBIs in the MENA region and reports their clinical severity and outcomes. A search was conducted using major electronic databases, including Medline/Ovid, PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and SCOPUS. Abstracts were screened independently and in duplicate to detect original research. The objective and study findings for each article were recorded, along with the mechanism of pTBI, patient age and sex, injury assessment tool(s) used, and outcome. A total of 1345 articles were retrieved, of which 152 met the criteria for full-text review, and 32 were included in this review. Males predominantly suffered from pTBIs (78%). Motor vehicle accidents, followed by child abuse, were the leading causes of pTBI. Overall, 0.39% of cases were mild, 0.58% moderate, 16.25% severe, and 82.27% unclassified. The mortality rate was 13.11%. Most studies used the computed tomography scan, Glasgow Coma Scale, Abbreviated Injury Scale, and Injury Severity Score as investigation methods. This review reports on the alarming rate of child-abuse-related pTBI and offers further understanding of pTBI-associated risk factors and insight into the development of strategies to reduce their occurrence, as well as policies to promote child well-being.
