Papers by Loulou Kobeissi
Background Despite progress in medical and skilled delivery care worldwide, neonatal and maternal... more Background Despite progress in medical and skilled delivery care worldwide, neonatal and maternal mortality is still a major public health problem in resource-limited settings.Objective To determine whether psychosocial interventions (PSI) can reduce neonatal and maternal mortality in low-and middle-income countries, and which approaches are most promising.Methods Randomised controlled trials comparing a PSI with a control condition were identified through systematic searches in seven databases. Effects were pooled as risk ratios in random-effects meta-analyses. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane risk of bias tool, and publication bias was estimated. Sensitivity analyses were conducted to investigate sources of heterogeneity.ResultsOf 22 eligible RCTs (20 cluster randomised trials), the outcomes of 21 were synthesized for the outcome of neonatal mortality and 14 for maternal mortality. PSIs effectively reduced the risk of neonatal mortality by about 15% (RR 0.85, 95% CI 0....
Sea water intrusion: the profile of some selected Western Asia/Middle East countries
Additional file 1 of Setting research priorities for sexual, reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health in humanitarian settings
Additional file 1: Supplementary Table A: Research Question Generation Survey (Print Screens of O... more Additional file 1: Supplementary Table A: Research Question Generation Survey (Print Screens of Online Survey). Supplementary Table B: Top Research Priority Questions Solicited (n = 280). Supplementary Table C. Distribution of RPS scores per dimension for the top TEN CHNRI research priority questions per SRMNCAH domain. Supplementary Table D. Members, Institutional Affiliations and Terms of Reference of the Technical Advisory Group.
BMJ Global Health
BackgroundSignificant global gains in sexual, reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolesce... more BackgroundSignificant global gains in sexual, reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health and nutrition (SRMNCAH&N) will be difficult unless conflict settings are adequately addressed. We aimed to determine the amount, scope and quality of publically available guidance documents, to characterise the process by which agencies develop their guidance and to identify gaps in guidance on SRMNCAH&N promotion in conflicts.MethodsWe identified guidance documents published between 2008 and 2018 through English-language Internet sites of humanitarian response organisations, reviewed them for their scope and assessed their quality with the AGREE II (Appraisal of Guidelines for REsearch and Evaluation II) tool. Additionally, we interviewed 22 key informants on guidance development, dissemination processes, perceived guidance gaps and applicability.FindingsWe identified 105 conflict-relevant guidance documents from 75 organisations. Of these, nine were specific to conflicts, oth...
Additional file 2: Supplementary Material 1. Interview Guide. Supplementary Material 2. Table 1. ... more Additional file 2: Supplementary Material 1. Interview Guide. Supplementary Material 2. Table 1. Quality criteria for reporting qualitative research (COREQ) and Table 1. Domains, items, description, information in the study.
Journal of Oncology, 2012
In Lebanon, bladder cancer is the second most incident cancer among men. This study investigates ... more In Lebanon, bladder cancer is the second most incident cancer among men. This study investigates a possible association between N-acetyltransferase 1 (NAT1) genotype, a drug-metabolizing enzyme coding gene, and bladder cancer in Lebanese men. A case-control study (54 cases and 105 hospital-based controls) was conducted in two major hospitals in Beirut. Cases were randomly selected from patients diagnosed in the period of 2002–2008. Controls were conveniently identified and selected from the same settings. Data was collected using interview questionnaire and blood analysis.NAT1genotypes were determined by PCR-RFLP. Statistical analysis revolved around univariate, bivariate, and multivariate logistic regression models, along with checks for effect modification. Results showedNAT1∗14Aallele, smoking, occupational exposure to combustion fumes, and prostate-related symptoms, to be risk factors for bladder cancer. The odds of carrying at least oneNAT1∗14Aallele are 7 times higher in cases...
Journal of Community Health, 2011
This manuscript presents the evaluation of a 3 year community-based participatory research (CBPR)... more This manuscript presents the evaluation of a 3 year community-based participatory research (CBPR) approach involving the testing of a psychosocial intervention to improve reproductive and mental health of married women in a disadvantaged community in Beirut, Lebanon. The community-based participatory approach involved a community advisory committee (CAC), a local women committee (LWC), and university researchers. The evaluation of the CBPR approach followed qualitative assessment which included: analysis of compiled field notes and minutes of meetings of CAC and LWC throughout the 3 years of the intervention, and focus group discussions and individual interviews conducted with the CAC and the LWC members following completion of the trial. The CBPR approach confirmed feasibility, cultural adequacy, as well as representation of community needs. Five main emerging themes came out of the FGD and interviews with CAC and LWC. The community and women involved viewed that the CBPR approach allowed for a good understanding of the community, they felt ownership of the study, acknowledged that participation gave the women voices, and established trust, and acknowledged the challenges faced. This manuscript describes how the community was involved, reports on their evaluation of the CBPR process, and discusses challenges to CBPR in this particular context.
Additional file 1: of A systematic review of monitoring and evaluation indicators for sexual and reproductive health in humanitarian settings
Additional Supporting Resources and Guiding MESH terms. (DOCX 49 kb)
Bulletin of the World Health Organization, 2021
Journal of Psychiatry and Psychiatric Disorders, 2021
Despite the availability of sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services in some humanitarian co... more Despite the availability of sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services in some humanitarian contexts, most young women have limited access to these services. Furthermore, many young women in humanitarian settings suffer from distress and cannot access care. In response to this double burden, WHO is conceptualizing a potentially scalable psychosocial (PSS) and SRH integrated intervention package to improve the use of selected SRH services and
Journal of Global Health, 2020
Psychosocial interventions for intimate partner violence in low and middle income countries: A me... more Psychosocial interventions for intimate partner violence in low and middle income countries: A meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials Background Intimate partner violence (IPV) is prevalent worldwide and presents pernicious consequences for women in developing countries or humanitarian settings. We examined the efficacy of psychosocial interventions for IPV among women in low-and middle-income countries (LMICs). Methods Seven databases were systematically searched for randomised controlled trials (RCTs) examining psychosocial interventions for IPV in LMICs. Thirteen RCTs were included in random-effects meta-analyses. Risk ratios (RR) and risk difference were calculated as pooled effect sizes. Risk of bias was assessed using an adapted version of the Cochrane tool accounting for cluster RCTs. Sensitivity analyses were conducted for risk of bias and design characteristics. Publication bias and heterogeneity were assessed. Results Psychosocial interventions reduced any form of IPV by 27% at shortest (relative risk (RR) = 0.73) and 25% at longest (RR = 0.75) follow up. Physical IPV was reduced by 22% at shortest (RR = 0.78) and 27% at longest (RR = 0.73) follow up. Sexual IPV was reduced by 23% at longest follow up (RR = 0.77) but showed no significant effect at shortest follow-up. Sensitivity analyses for risk of bias led to an increase in magnitude of the effect for any form of IPV and physical IPV. The effect on sexual IPV was no longer significant. Heterogeneity was moderate to high in the majority of comparisons. Conclusions Psychosocial interventions may reduce the impact of IPV in humanitarian or low and middle income settings. We acknowledge heterogeneity and limited availability of RCTs demonstrating minimal risk of bias as limitations. Electronic supplementary material: The online version of this article contains supplementary material. 
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Papers by Loulou Kobeissi