Peer-reviewed article
Health-resilient frameworks and their impact on routine immunisation and Maternal, Neonatal and Child Health services during pandemics in sub-Saharan Africa: a scoping review protocol
Sangwe Clovis Nchinjoh, Sibusiso Frank Nkosi, Kelebogile Leah Manjinja, Wilfred Njabulo Nunu ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This is a protocol for a scoping review that will examine how health-resilient frameworks help maintain routine immunisation and maternal, neonatal and child health services during pandemics in sub-Saharan Africa. The review will search multiple databases for studies published up to 2024 and use thematic synthesis to evaluate these frameworks' effectiveness and adaptability. The work responds to pandemic-related disruptions that have worsened service coverage and mortality rates in the region.
Key points
- COVID-19 pandemic has worsened stagnation in Maternal, Neonatal and Child Health service coverage and under-five and maternal mortality rates in sub-Saharan Africa
- The scoping review will comprehensively map and evaluate health-resilient frameworks applied to routine immunisation and MNCH services during pandemics
- Literature search will cover databases from their inception through 2024 using Joanna Briggs Institute guidelines
- Data will be extracted and categorised using the Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcomes and Healthcare Contexts framework
- Findings will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications and professional forums
Limitations
This is a protocol document, not a completed review. It cannot provide evidence about which health-resilient frameworks actually work or their specific impacts on immunisation and MNCH services; those findings will emerge from the review itself once conducted.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Despite significant global advancements, the past decade has seen stagnation in Maternal, Neonatal and Child Health (MNCH) service coverage and a concerning high under-five and maternal mortality rates, which have been worsened by COVID-19 pandemic-related disruptions, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. This scoping review protocol will support the comprehensive mapping, evaluation and assessment of the application, impact, effectiveness and adaptability of health-resilient frameworks in maintaining these services during pandemics, while also identifying gaps in the literature and areas for further research. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: Following the Joanna Briggs Institute guidelines, a literature search across databases such as PubMed, Scopus and African Journals Online for studies published from the inception of the databases to 2024 will be conducted. Covidence will facilitate the iterative screening process by two independent reviewers. Data extraction will employ the Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcomes and Healthcare Contexts framework to categorise information. The thematic synthesis will integrate the findings to comprehensively evaluate the framework's application, impact, effectiveness and adaptability in the context of routine immunisation and MNCH services. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This is part of a broader study approved by the evaluation committee of the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of the Free State, and ethical clearance was granted by the university's Human Research Ethics Committee with registration number UFS-HSD2025/0102/2705. The findings will be shared with relevant stakeholders through publications in peer-reviewed journals and presentations at meetings, conferences, seminars and professional forums.