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Peer-reviewedCC BY 4.0BMJ Open

Causes of mortality in humanitarian crises requiring coordinated response: a scoping review protocol

  • Paula Christen1,2,3
  • Nisreen Shehada1,2
  • Nada Abdelmagid4
  • Ruwan Ratnayake4
  • Hanan Abukmail4
  • Arran Hamlet2,5,6
  • Catherine McGowan4
  • Oliver J Watson1,2
  • Bhargavi Rao7,8
8 affiliations
  1. 1WHO Collaborating Centre for Infectious Disease Modelling, MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, UK
  2. 2Abdul Latif Jameel Institute for Disease and Emergency Analytics, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, UK
  3. 3Center for Epidemiological Modelling and Analysis (CEMA), University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
  4. 4Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology and International Health, Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
  5. 5MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, UK
  6. 6Epidemic Preparedness and Response, Global Health Programs, PATH, London, UK
  7. 7Global Health Department, Faculty of Public Health Policy, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
  8. 8Manson Unit, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), London, UK
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Abstract

Introduction: Mortality patterns in humanitarian crises are shaped by intersecting factors including violence, displacement, health system disruption and environmental shocks. While crude and under-five mortality rates are often tracked, less is known about specific causes of death across diverse crisis contexts. Existing guidance informing humanitarian response is largely informed by outdated evidence and does not account for demographic, epidemiological and geopolitical shifts over the past two decades. This review aims to synthesise available data on cause-specific mortality in humanitarian settings to inform improved monitoring, policy and response.

Methods and analysis: We will conduct a scoping review of peer-reviewed and grey literature reporting on causes of death in humanitarian crises between 2015 and 2025. Eligible studies will include crisis-affected populations in locations with an active Humanitarian Response Plan during analysis. We will search Medline, Embase and Global Health, and screen organisational datasets from key humanitarian agencies. A large language model will be used to assist with title and abstract screening. Full-text screening and data extraction will be conducted manually by two reviewers. Methodological quality will be assessed using study-type-specific appraisal tools. Data will be extracted using a standardised plan and synthesised narratively.

Ethics and dissemination: Ethics approval is not required as this study uses publicly available data. Findings will be submitted to a peer-reviewed journal and disseminated via policy briefs, academic presentations and targeted stakeholder engagement.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{christen2026causes,
  title = {{Causes of mortality in humanitarian crises requiring coordinated response: a scoping review protocol}},
  author = {Paula Christen and Nisreen Shehada and Nada Abdelmagid and Ruwan Ratnayake and Hanan Abukmail and Arran Hamlet and Catherine McGowan and Oliver J Watson and Bhargavi Rao},
  journal = {BMJ Open},
  year = {2026},
  month = oct,
  doi = {10.1136/bmjopen-2025-110528},
  url = {https://bmjopen.bmj.com/lookup/doi/10.1136/bmjopen-2025-110528},
  note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Causes of mortality in humanitarian crises requiring coordinated response: a scoping review protocol
AU  - Paula Christen
AU  - Nisreen Shehada
AU  - Nada Abdelmagid
AU  - Ruwan Ratnayake
AU  - Hanan Abukmail
AU  - Arran Hamlet
AU  - Catherine McGowan
AU  - Oliver J Watson
AU  - Bhargavi Rao
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/10/07
JO  - BMJ Open
DO  - 10.1136/bmjopen-2025-110528
UR  - https://bmjopen.bmj.com/lookup/doi/10.1136/bmjopen-2025-110528
AB  - Introduction: Mortality patterns in humanitarian crises are shaped by intersecting factors including violence, displacement, health system disruption and environmental shocks. While crude and under-five mortality rates are often tracked, less is known about specific causes of death across diverse crisis contexts. Existing guidance informing humanitarian response is largely informed by outdated evidence and does not account for demographic, epidemiological and geopolitical shifts over the past two decades. This review aims to synthesise available data on cause-specific mortality in humanitarian settings to inform improved monitoring, policy and response.  Methods and analysis: We will conduct a scoping review of peer-reviewed and grey literature reporting on causes of death in humanitarian crises between 2015 and 2025. Eligible studies will include crisis-affected populations in locations with an active Humanitarian Response Plan during analysis. We will search Medline, Embase and Global Health, and screen organisational datasets from key humanitarian agencies. A large language model will be used to assist with title and abstract screening. Full-text screening and data extraction will be conducted manually by two reviewers. Methodological quality will be assessed using study-type-specific appraisal tools. Data will be extracted using a standardised plan and synthesised narratively.  Ethics and dissemination: Ethics approval is not required as this study uses publicly available data. Findings will be submitted to a peer-reviewed journal and disseminated via policy briefs, academic presentations and targeted stakeholder engagement.
SN  - 2044-6055
SN  - 2044-6055
ER  -