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. 2024 May 22;7(5):e2105.
doi: 10.1002/hsr2.2105. eCollection 2024 May.

The effect of maternal age on still birth in Africa: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Mengistu Abate  1 , Mastewal Arefaynie  2 , Amare Muche  3 , Asressie Molla  3 , Shambel Wodajo  3 , Kibir Temesgen  1 , Zinabu Fentaw  3 , Zenebe Tefera  1 , Tesfa D Habtewold  4
Affiliations

The effect of maternal age on still birth in Africa: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Mengistu Abate et al. Health Sci Rep. .

Abstract

Background and aims: Stillbirth is a public health as well as a development problem in low and middle-income countries. The studies that found out maternal age as a factor for the risk of stillbirth reported different findings. This systematic review and meta-analysis is believed to fill the inconclusiveness of these findings. Hence, the aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to estimate the pooled effect of advanced maternal age on stillbirth in Africa.

Methods: PubMed & HINARY databases and Google Scholar search engine were searched to access the primary studies. The extracted data using Microsoft excel was exported to Stata 15 software for analysis. The presence of heterogeneity was checked using Cochran's Q statistic and the I 2 test. Publication bias was examined by using funnel plot and Egger's test. The pooled effect measure with DerSimonian and Laird method of random-effect model was reported using odds ratio (OR) with respective 95% confidence interval.

Results: Totally, 14 articles are included for the systematic review and meta-analysis. The stillbirth reported by the studies ranges from 15 to 146.7 per 1000 births. The overall OR of advanced maternal age (≥35 years) on stillbirth is 1.42 (1.18, 1.71) when compared with the age group of 20-35 years. The cumulative effect of getting pregnant at advanced age on stillbirth was slightly increasing from year to year.

Conclusion: Advanced maternal age is a risk factor for stillbirth. Health Information Communication on the risk of getting pregnant at the advanced ages on stillbirth should be well addressed to all women of reproductive age group.

Keywords: Africa; Ethiopia; age; still birth; systematic review and meta‐analysis.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Selection process of eligible studies for systematic review and meta‐analysis of the effect of age on stillbirth in Africa, 2021.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Distribution of the selected studies across the continent.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Forest plot for pooled odds ratio of advanced maternal age (≥35 years) on stillbirth when compared with the age group of 20–35 years from selected studies for systematic review and meta‐analysis in Africa, 2021.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Galbraith plot of the selected studies for systematic review and meta‐analysis on the effect of age on stillbirth in Africa, 2021.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Funnel plot of the selected studies for systematic review and meta‐analysis on the effect of age on stillbirth in Africa, 2021.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Egger's test graph of the selected studies for systematic review and meta‐analysis on the effect of age on stillbirth in Africa, 2021.
Figure 7
Figure 7
Cumulative meta‐analysis for the effect of age on stillbirth from the selected studies for systematic review and meta‐analysis in Africa, 2021.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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