A modified Delphi study towards developing a guideline to inform policy on fetal alcohol spectrum disorders in South Africa: a study protocol
Loading...
Date
2018
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
BMJ Publishing Group
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Maternal alcohol consumption during
pregnancy can result in mental and physical birth defects
in individuals. These birth defects are usually described
as fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs). With an
estimated 183–259 per 1000 children born with FASDs,
South Africa is identified to have the highest prevalence
of FASDs in the world. Nevertheless, there is a lack
of appropriate policies, guidelines and interventions
addressing the issues around FASDs. This protocol outlines
a proposed process for developing a guideline to inform
policies on FASDs.
METHODS AND ANALYSIS This process will have three
phases. Phase I will be carried out in three steps; we plan
to conduct a document review of available policies on
the prevention and management of FASDs and update
the existing systematic review on FASDs interventions.
The aim of the two reviews is to explore the availability
and content of existing policies and global interventions
on FASDs. In addition, we will conduct two exploratory
qualitative studies to obtain the perspectives of various
stakeholders on the existing or possible guidelines and
policies for the management of FASDs and available
interventions and services. In phase II, we will aggregate
the findings of the previous phase to develop a prototype
guideline. In phase III, using the developed prototype, we
will apply the Delphi approach with experts on FASDs,
soliciting their opinions on the nature and content of the
proposed guidelines for policies. The information gathered
will be used to modify the prototype to formulate a policy
guideline on FASDs. The data will be analysed using
thematic analysis and narrative synthesis.
ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION Ethical clearance has been
obtained from the ethics committee of the university
and governmental departments. The findings will be
disseminated through publications and the guideline will
be submitted to relevant departments.
Description
Keywords
Delphi study, Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders, South Africa, Maternal alcohol consumption
Citation
Adebiyi, B.O. et al. (2018). A modified Delphi study towards developing a guideline to inform policy on fetal alcohol spectrum disorders in South Africa: a study protocol. BMJ Open, 8: e019907.