Magnitude of perinatal mortality in sub-Saharan Africa since 2000: a systematic review and meta-analysis protocol

BackgroundA lot of unborn and newly born babies continue to die during pregnancy, childbirth and in the first week of life. Over 5,1 million stillbirths and neonatal deaths occur globally each year with 98% of these in low-middle-income countries. Since the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) era, global perinatal mortality reduced from 5.7 million in 2000 to 4.1 million by 2015. The global stillbirth rate which averaged 24.7 in 2000 declined to 18.4 per 1000 live births by 2015. Neonatal mortality rate equally showed a downward trend from 37 in 1990 to 19 deaths per 1000 live births by 2016. In spite of this, sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) has continued to record the highest rate as 2% of the 45% data collected is in high income countries. The average perinatal mortality rate is at 30.3 per 1000 live births with Ethiopia reportedly highest at 49. The main aim of this study is to determine the magnitude of perinatal mortality in SSA since 2000. MethodsThe databases searched are EMBASE, Scopus, and CINAHIL the followed by grey literature sources including ProQuest Global Thesis, and Dissertation, and Google Scholar. The articles for the publications made from January 2000 to December, 2023. Quality of the articles check was with Joanna Briggs Institute quality assessment tool. Three reviewers screened all retrieved articles, extracted, and then critically appraised all identified studies. Stata software version 17 will be used. DiscussionThe review will provide a detailed summary of the magnitude of perinatal mortality in SSA since 2000. The review will synthesis available observational studies on perinatal mortality to identify pooled estimates. Systematic review registrationPROSPERO CRD42023437432