Abstract Objective In the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), data are produced in languages other than English and available through gray literature sources. We assessed the comprehensiveness of literature search strategies of systematic reviews (SRs) reporting population health primary data on MENA. Methods Utilizing the registered protocol (PROSPERO CRD42017076736), we conducted a meta‐research analysis on a cohort of SRs (systematic PubMed search: from 2008 to 2016) and evaluated their search strategies following AMSTAR recommendations. Results A total of 379 SRs were included. Few SRs (10.3%, n = 39) conducted a comprehensive literature search including at least two databases, reference lists of included primary studies, gray literature sources, and no language restriction. Nevertheless, 90.5% (n = 343) searched at least two databases and 67.0% (n = 254) searched gray literature sources. Authors from MENA searched statistically more for gray literature than authors from Western countries (P = 0.022). Reference lists of the included studies were searched in 40.4% (n = 153) of the SRs. Searching the reference lists was positively associated with searching for gray literature (P < 0.001). Only 38.8% (n = 147) of the SRs had no language restriction or searched in English and in at least one language relevant to MENA, whereas 27.2% (n = 103) did not report this information. Conclusions Literature searches for SRs reporting population health data on MENA were limited in reporting quality, language restrictions, and lack of reference list searches. This was probably due to lack of adherence to the reporting guidelines. To ensure compilation of optimum evidence, expanding literature searches to reference list search and for additional languages relevant to MENA are required.

中文翻译：

---

加强报告中东和北非人口健康系统评价的文献检索策略：一项荟萃研究。


摘要 目的 在中东和北非 (MENA)，数据以英语以外的语言生成，并可通过灰色文献来源获取。我们评估了报告中东和北非地区人口健康主要数据的系统评价（SR）文献检索策略的全面性。方法利用注册协议（PROSPERO CRD42017076736），我们对一组 SR（系统性 PubMed 搜索：2008 年至 2016 年）进行了荟萃研究分析，并按照 AMSTAR 建议评估了他们的搜索策略。结果 总共纳入 379 个 SR。很少有 SR（10.3%，n = 39）进行了全面的文献检索，包括至少两个数据库、所包含的主要研究的参考文献列表、灰色文献来源，并且没有语言限制。尽管如此，90.5% (n = 343) 的人至少检索了两个数据库，67.0% (n = 254) 的人检索了灰色文献来源。从统计数据来看，中东和北非地区的作者对灰色文献的搜索量高于西方国家的作者 (P = 0.022)。 40.4% (n = 153) 的 SR 中检索了纳入研究的参考文献列表。搜索参考文献列表与搜索灰色文献呈正相关（P< 0.001）。只有 38.8% (n = 147) 的 SR 没有语言限制或以英语和至少一种与 MENA 相关的语言进行检索，而 27.2% (n = 103) 没有报告此信息。结论 报告中东和北非地区人口健康数据的 SR 的文献检索在报告质量、语言限制和缺乏参考文献列表检索方面受到限制。这可能是由于不遵守报告准则造成的。 为了确保汇编最佳证据，需要将文献检索范围扩大到参考文献列表检索以及与中东和北非地区相关的其他语言。