Abstract
BackgroundMeasuring and monitoring progress towards Millennium Development Goals (MDG) 4 and 5 requires valid and reliable estimates of maternal and neonatal mortality. In South Africa, there are conflicting reports on the estimates of maternal and neonatal mortality, derived from both direct and indirect estimation techniques. This study aims to systematically review the estimates made of maternal and neonatal mortality in the period from 1990 to 2015 in South Africa and determine trends over this period.MethodsFor the purpose of this review, searches for eligible studies will be conducted in MEDLINE, Africa-Wide Information, African Index Medicus, African Journals Online, Scopus, Web of Science and CINAHL databases. Searches will be restricted to articles written in English and presenting data covering the period between 1990 and 2015. Reference lists of retrieved articles will also be screened for additional publications. Three independent reviewers will be involved in the study selection, data extractions and achieving consensus. Study quality and risk of bias will thereafter be assessed by two authors. The results will be presented as rates/ratio with their corresponding 95% confidence/uncertainty intervals.DiscussionIdentifying trends in maternal and neonatal mortality will help to track progress in MDGs 4 and 5 and will serve in evaluating interventions focusing on reducing maternal and child mortality in the country. This study will, in particular, provide the context for understanding inconsistencies in reported estimates of maternal and neonatal mortality by considering estimation methods, data sources and definitions used.Systematic review registrationPROSPERO CRD42016042769
Highlights
Measuring and monitoring progress towards Millennium Development Goals (MDG) 4 and 5 requires valid and reliable estimates of maternal and neonatal mortality
Considering other African countries which did not meet MDG 4 and 5 targets, only South Africa had conflicting estimates of maternal and neonatal mortality reported by different sources [15,16,17,18,19,20]
Estimation of maternal and neonatal mortality in the country is often based on the National Confidential Enquiry into Maternal Deaths (NCEMD) which records maternal deaths and the Damian et al Systematic Reviews (2017) 6:165
Summary
Measuring and monitoring progress towards Millennium Development Goals (MDG) 4 and 5 requires valid and reliable estimates of maternal and neonatal mortality. Various methods for measuring and estimating maternal and neonatal mortality have been developed, tested and widely used [1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8]. Estimating these outcomes in developing countries is challenging due to the lack of accurate, valid and reliable data [9,10,11,12,13,14]. Estimation of maternal and neonatal mortality in the country is often based on the National Confidential Enquiry into Maternal Deaths (NCEMD) which records maternal deaths and the Damian et al Systematic Reviews (2017) 6:165
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