Multipronged biobehavioural intervention strategies for prevention and control of hypertension: A protocol for systematic review of education-based community trials

Hypertension is one of the most pressing health challenges in sub-Saharan Africa, particularly South Africa. Evaluation of community-wide biobehavioural, preventative and control strategies for hypertension are necessary for planning and advancing primary prevention in the region. This systematic review aims to assess community-wide biobehavioural intervention strategies for hypertension prevention and control worldwide. This protocol follows the preferred items for reporting systematic reviews and meta-analysis protocols (PRISMA-P). Databases: Medline, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Academic Search Complete, Cumulative Index for Allied Health Literature and African Journals (SABINET). Two independent reviewers will conduct article screening and data extraction. Primary data items include multipronged bio-behavioural interventions used for community-wide prevention and control of hypertension, intervention efficacy, and roles of forms and format, modes, and channels of intervention on efficacy. Methodological quality will be assessed using the mixed-method appraisal tool. Findings will be presented using narrative synthesis. Descriptive data will be summarized using frequencies and percentages. Using random-effect meta-analysis, efficacy of interventions will be evaluated. Heterogeneity will be examined using the Cochrane I² statistic. Meta-analysis will be conducted with aid of Comprehensive Meta-analysis version 4. The review will provide insights into preventive and control strategies used in different climes and their efficacy.