Table 2 Description of the main thematic areas, including the number of articles that were identified per area

Use of community resources (n = 4)

Use of community-based healthcare delivery (community health care workers) or voluntarily engagement and mobilizing of community members

Improved governance and financing (n = 7)

Governance and financing includes strategies on budgeting, reforms, policy making, decision-making process, national and international funding and financial accountability and transparency

Empowered middle-level leadership (n = 6)

Leadership refers to senior and middle managers in the health sector including roles, responsibilities, management style, values, trust, and ability to create reflective spaces

Improved surveillance systems (n = 6)

Surveillance includes health information systems, messaging and collaborating with other systems and the public to track necessary information

Strengthened human resources management and capacity (n = 5)

The health workforce including number of staff, task-shifting, flexible working modes, motivation, training including on-the-job training and involvement and participation of staff in processes and decision-making

Improved communication and collaboration (n = 4)

Communication includes internal and external communication and collaboration with partners in the health system and with other sectors, including private–public partnerships

Improved preparedness (n = 3)

Preparedness for crises include planning, response plans, checklists, protocols, and disaster risk analysis and management

Strengthened organizational capacity and learning (n = 4)

Organizational capacity and learning include the ability of the health system and actors to organize, function and learn within a certain context and with the resources available

Re-emphasized health systems strengthening (n = 4)

Health system strengthening include universal health coverage and core capacities of health security and International Health Regulations