title: Hypertension prevalence, incidence and risk factors among children and adolescents in Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis protocol.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The African adult population is facing a growing epidemic of hypertension. Establishment of accurate epidemiological data on hypertension in African children and adolescents may have important implications for hypertension preventive strategies in Africa.
  
  
  METHODS
  This systematic review and meta-analysis will follow the MOOSE Guidelines. Relevant abstracts published in English/French from 1 January 1985 to 31 July 2015 will be searched in PubMed, Google Scholar and Online African journals. Full texts of eligible studies will then be accessed through PubMed, Google Scholar, HINARI and the respective journals' websites. Relevant unpublished papers and conference proceedings will also be checked. Data will be analysed using R statistical software. The study-specific estimates will be pooled through a random-effects meta-analysis model to obtain an overall summary estimate of the prevalence/incidence of hypertension across studies. Also, we will assess the association between risk factors and hypertension. Heterogeneity of studies will be evaluated by the χ(2) test on Cochrane's Q statistic. Funnel plots analysis and Egger's test will be done to detect publication bias. Results will be presented by geographic region (central, eastern, northern, southern and western Africa). A p value less than 0.05 will be considered significant for factors that predicted hypertension.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  The current study is based on published data, and thus ethical approval is not required. This systematic review and meta-analysis is expected to serve as input for designing early life preventive and control strategies, and as a guide for future research based on existing gaps. The final report of the systematic review in the form of a scientific paper will be published in peer-reviewed journals. Findings will further be presented at conferences and submitted to relevant health authorities.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  CRD42015019029.
authors.affiliation: Division of Medicine, Sangmelima Referral Hospital, Sangmelima, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Mickael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Essouma
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Groote Schuur Hospital and University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa Medical Diagnostic Center, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Jean Jacques N
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Noubiap
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Pasteur Center of Cameroon, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Jean Joel R
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Bigna
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Jobert Richie N
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Nansseu
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine and Specialties, Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Ahmadou M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Jingi
authors.affiliation: Nguti District Hospital, Nguti, Cameroon Clinical Research Education, Networking and Consultancy (CRENC), Douala, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Leopold N
authors.initials: LN
authors.lastname: Aminde
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, Laval University, Québec City, Québec, Canada.
authors.forename: Joseline
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zafack
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000349:Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D007223:Infant; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D000078202:Systematic Reviews as Topic; D015201:Meta-Analysis as Topic
keywords: Adolescents; Africa; Children