title: Methods for conducting systematic reviews of risk factors in low- and middle-income countries.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Rates of youth violence are disproportionately high in many low- and middle-income countries [LMICs] but existing reviews of risk factors focus almost exclusively on high-income countries. Different search strategies, including non-English language searches, might be required to identify relevant evidence in LMICs. This paper discusses methodological issues in systematic reviews aiming to include evidence from LMICs, using the example of a recent review of risk factors for child conduct problems and youth violence in LMICs.
  
  
  METHODS
  We searched the main international databases, such as PsycINFO, Medline and EMBASE in English, as well as 12 regional databases in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Spanish, Portuguese and Russian. In addition, we used internet search engines and Google Scholar, and contacted over 200 researchers and organizations to identify potentially eligible studies in LMICs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The majority of relevant studies were identified in the mainstream databases, but additional studies were also found through regional databases, such as CNKI, Wangfang, LILACS and SciELO. Overall, 85% of eligible studies were in English, and 15% were reported in Chinese, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian or French. Among eligible studies in languages other than English, two-thirds were identified only by regional databases and one-third was also indexed in the main international databases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There are many studies on child conduct problems and youth violence in LMICs which have not been included in prior reviews. Most research on these subjects in LMICs has been produced in the last two-three decades and mostly in middle-income countries, such as China, Brazil, Turkey, South Africa and Russia. Based on our findings, it appears that many studies of child conduct problems and youth violence in LMICs are reported in English, Chinese, Spanish and Portuguese, but few such studies are published in French, Arabic or Russian. If non-English language searches and screening had not been conducted in the current review, 15% of eligible studies would have been missed. Although there are benefits to non-English language searches and the inclusion of non-English studies in meta-analyses, systematic reviewers also need to consider the resources required to incorporate multi-lingual research.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Criminology, University of Cambridge, Sidgwick Ave, Cambridge, CB3 9DA, UK.
authors.forename: Yulia
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shenderovich
authors.affiliation: Institute of Criminology, University of Cambridge, Sidgwick Ave, Cambridge, CB3 9DA, UK.
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Eisner
authors.affiliation: Department of Violence and Injury Prevention and Disability, World Health Organization, 20 Avenue Appia, 1211, Geneva 27, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mikton
authors.affiliation: Department of Social Policy and Intervention, University of Oxford, Barnett House, 32 Wellington Square, Oxford, OX1 2ER, UK.
authors.forename: Frances
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gardner
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, University of Pennsylvania, 418 Curie Blvd, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.
authors.forename: Jianghong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Postgraduate Programme in Epidemiology, Federal University of Pelotas, Rua Marechal Deodoro, 1160, 3º Piso, CEP: 96020-220, Pelotas, RS, Brazil. prof.murray@outlook.com.|Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Douglas House, 18b Trumpington Road, Cambridge, CB2 8AH, UK. prof.murray@outlook.com.
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5511-3454
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Murray
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D016208:Databases, Factual; D019049:Developed Countries / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003906:Developing Countries / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007182:Income / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D038622:Internationality; D008297:Male; D011203:Poverty / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012737:Sex Factors; D014754:Violence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Conduct problems; Databases; Low- and middle-income countries; Meta-analysis; Systematic review; Violence