Table 3 Critical review criteria (background and methodology) and results of three reviewed surveys
Survey (Ref) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 (14) | 2 (15) | 3 (16) | ||
Criteria | ||||
Background | ||||
Rationale | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Explain the rationale for the survey |
Objectives | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | State the objectives |
Utilization | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | State how the results of the survey are to be used (e.g. advocacy, program monitoring, baseline assessment) |
Protocol | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | State who wrote the protocol for this survey |
Methods | ||||
Setting | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Describe the survey setting and relevant dates |
Participants | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Give the eligibility criteria for inclusion in the survey |
✓ | ✗ | ✓ | State the definition of household | |
Variables | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Define all outcomes and exposures |
Survey instrument(s) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | For each variable of interest, give sources of data and measurement methods. Mention if secondary sources such as clinic records were consulted. |
✓ | ✓ | ✓ | a) How was age ascertained? | |
✓ | ✓ | ✓ | b) How were deaths ascertained? | |
How were causes of death ascertained? | ||||
✓ | ✗ | ✓ | c) How were height (length), weight and oedema measured? | |
✗ | ✓ | ✓ | d) Reference the formulae and indicators used for nutritional prevalence, CMR and U5MR | |
✗ | ✓ | ✓ | e) How was vaccination status determined (card, history, scar?) | |
Authorization and Ethical Considerations | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Was authorization for this survey obtained? |
✗ | ✗ | ✗ | State whether ethical approval approval was obtained | |
✗ | ✗ | ✗ | Describe the informed consent procedure | |
Bias | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | Describe any efforts to address potential sources of bias |
Study size | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | State how the sample size was determined and provide all assumptions. including but not limited to: |
✗ | ✓ | ✓ | a) What design effect was assumed (cluster survey)? | |
b) What CMR (and U5MR) was assumed? | ||||
✗ | ✓ | ✓ | c) What prevalence of GAM/SAM was assumed? | |
✗ | ✓ | ✓ | d) What degree of precision is desired? | |
Survey Design | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Describe survey sampling design |
✓ | ✓ | ✓ | a) Describe household selection procedures | |
✗ | ✗ | ✗ | b) Describe procedures to revisit absent households | |
Survey Teams | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Describe training procedures |
✓ | ✓ | ✓ | State number of surveyors and their degree of professional training | |
✗ | ✓ | ✓ | State how the survey was piloted | |
Data Accuracy | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | Describe strategies to ensure data accuracy (e.g., double entry) |
Statistical methods | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | a) Describe all statistical methods |
✗ | ✗ | ✗ | b) Explain how missing data were addressed | |
✗ | ✓ | ✓ | d) Provide software used for statistical analyses | |