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. 2025 Apr;169(1):51-62.
doi: 10.1002/ijgo.16035. Epub 2024 Nov 16.

Characteristics of longitudinal maternal health studies in sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic mapping of literature between 2012 and 2022

Ijeoma Solarin  1 , Cherlynn Dumbura  2 , Darshnika Pemi Lakhoo  1 , Kshama Chande  3 , Gloria Maimela  3 , Stanley Luchters  2   4   5 , Matthew Chersich  1   6 ; HE2AT Center
Affiliations

Characteristics of longitudinal maternal health studies in sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic mapping of literature between 2012 and 2022

Ijeoma Solarin et al. Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 2025 Apr.

Abstract

Background: High maternal mortality rates in sub-Saharan Africa necessitate the need for aligned research focusing on prevalent causes and neglected conditions in the region.

Objective: This mapping review aimed to describe the characteristics of longitudinal maternal health studies between 2012 and 2022 in sub-Saharan Africa and identify gaps in priority conditions or geographical locations.

Search strategy: We identified references through a Medline (PubMed) search covering September 2012 to June 2022.

Selection criteria: We included prospective cohort or clinical trials that enrolled at least 1000 pregnant women, with a study site in sub-Saharan Africa, and published in English or French.

Data collection and analysis: Screening and data extraction were done in duplicate using EPPI-reviewer software. Descriptive analysis was used to summarize the results, identifying patterns in studies across time, country, study design, topics, and funders.

Main results: We identified 213 eligible studies, which were covered in 534 publications. We identified studies in 33 of the 48 sub-Saharan African countries, with the majority in east and southern Africa. The predominant study topics were HIV (36.4%), nutrition (20%), and malaria (16.3%), with very few publications on hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (6.4%), ante/postpartum hemorrhage (3.7%), and sexually transmitted infections (3.2%). More studies were cohorts (115/213; 54%) than clinical trials. The National Institutes of Health (31.5%), Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (22.1%), and USAID (10.8%) were the largest research funders.

Conclusion: Identifying research trends and mismatches between research topics and disease burden provides useful information for guiding future research prioritization. In particular, gaps exist for studies on hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and ante/postpartum hemorrhage, among the top causes of maternal mortality in sub-Saharan Africa.

Keywords: clinical trials; longitudinal studies; maternal health; prospective cohorts; research funding; sub‐Saharan Africa; systematic mapping.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no conflicts of interest.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
PRISMA flow diagram.
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Map showing distribution of studies across the continent.
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3
Regional distribution of studies in sub‐Saharan Africa (n studies; n publications). Regions are based on World Bank classification.
FIGURE 4
FIGURE 4
Annual number of publications.
FIGURE 5
FIGURE 5
Annualized number of publications by topic in 3‐year group periods. Multiple response studies can include more than one topic. Publication numbers are annualized over the year group periods (number of studies divided by number of years or part of years).
FIGURE 6
FIGURE 6
Heat map of funding allocation by country (n = number of studies).
FIGURE 7
FIGURE 7
Proportion of funding allocated to cohorts and clinical trials by funder. BMGF, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation; NIH, National Institutes of Health.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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