Background:

Cochrane systematic reviews provide reliable up-to-date evidence that inform decision in healthcare practice and policies. To
facilitate evidence-based health care in resource-poor countries, it is important to ensure that systematic reviews that address health
problems common in these countries are prioritized, developed and effectively disseminated.

Objectives:

To identify priority systematic
review topics that address common health problem in Nigeria.

Methods:

A multi-disciplinary team developed and piloted study methodology and tools. A primary list of health problems was compiled from the National Health Management Information Systems and information from key informants (health professionals, researchers
and NGOs) drawn from all six geo-political zones in Nigeria. The key steps included: compilation and ranking of a comprehensive list of health problems categorized into adult communicable and non-communicable conditions, maternal and child health problems; searching The Cochrane Library and electronic databases for systematic reviews on identified priority problems, analysis of search outputs to identify gaps; and listing and ranking of new priority systematic review
topics using pre-determined criteria.

Results:

The list of top ten priority health problems in each category is shown in Table 1. A
comprehensive list of priority Cochrane systematic reviews addressing these health problems will be presented and discussed.

Conclusions:

Identification, prioritization and effective dissemination of systematic reviews relevant to health care in Nigeria will facilitate delivery of evidence-based and equitable health care in the country and other resource-poor countries.