SynthesisAnnals of global health2019
Perinatal Mortality in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Meta-Analysis of Demographic and Health Surveys.
Synthesis in Annals of global health, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 65 papers, 8 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
65 citing papers in PubMed, 8 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Perinatal mortality in eastern Africa: A systematic review and meta-analysis.International journal of gynaecology and obstetrics: the official organ of the International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics · 2026Pooled it
- Predictors and prevalence of perinatal mortality in Ghana: a systematic review and meta-analysis.BMC public health · 2025Pooled it
- Association between pregnancy intention and completion of newborn and infant continuum of care in Sub-Saharan Africa: systematic review and meta-analysis.BMC pediatrics · 2024Pooled it
- A systematic review and meta-analysis of the globally reported International Classification of Diseases to Perinatal Mortality (ICD-PM).Frontiers in medicine · 2024Pooled it
- The effect of Ebola virus disease on maternal health service utilisation and perinatal outcomes in West Africa: a systematic review.Reproductive health · 2022Pooled it
- Perinatal mortality and its association with antenatal care visit, maternal tetanus toxoid immunization and partograph utilization in Ethiopia: a meta-analysis.Scientific reports · 2021Pooled it
- The effect of antenatal care on perinatal outcomes in Ethiopia: A systematic review and meta-analysis.PloS one · 2021Pooled it
- Magnitude and trend of perinatal mortality and its relationship with inter-pregnancy interval in Ethiopia: a systematic review and meta-analysis.BMC pregnancy and childbirth · 2020Pooled it
- Effect of anesthesia administration method on apgar scores of infants born to women undergoing elective cesarean section.BMC anesthesiology · 2023Trial
- Improving health care facility birth rates in Rorya District, Tanzania: a multiple baseline trial.BMC pregnancy and childbirth · 2022Trial
- Correlates of self-reported pregnancy complications: a cross-sectional study in two districts in Northern Ghana.Archives of public health = Archives belges de sante publique · 2026Article
- Time to Death and Predictors of Mortality in Neonates Admitted to Tibebe Ghion Referral Hospital, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in Northwest Ethiopia: A Retrospective Follow-Up Study.Health science reports · 2026Article
- Antenatal Care and Perinatal Mortality in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: Insights for Maternal and Newborn Health System.Mayo Clinic proceedings. Innovations, quality & outcomes · 2026Article
- Geospatial variations and predictors of low birth weight in Sub-Saharan Africa: a geospatial modeling using evidence from demographic health survey 2015-2024.EClinicalMedicine · 2026Article
- Survival Status and Predictors of Mortality Among Preterm Neonates Admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Units in Central Ethiopia: A Prospective Follow-Up Study.Public health challenges · 2025Article
- Establishment of a neonatal nursery in a rural district hospital in Malawi: a retrospective review of neonatal outcomes in Neno District Hospital (2014-2021).BMC pediatrics · 2025Article
- Knowledge and utilization of obstetric ultrasound and associated factors among pregnant mother in Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis.The ultrasound journal · 2025Review
- Spatial variation, pooled prevalence, and factors associated with perinatal mortality in Sub-Saharan Africa, evidence from demographic and health surveys 2015-2023: a geospatial regression approach.EClinicalMedicine · 2025Article
- Adverse birth outcome and associated factors among mothers with antepartum hemorrhage in public hospitals Tigray, northern Ethiopia, 2020.BMC pregnancy and childbirth · 2025Article
- Predictors of perinatal mortality in emerging regions of Ethiopia: Evidence from EDHS 2016.PloS one · 2025Article
5 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
2 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundSub-Saharan Africa (SSA) has one of the highest levels of perinatal mortality globally. However, there are sub-regional and country-specific disparities in its distribution.
objectiveThe aim of this study was to undertake a meta-analysis of demographic and health surveys to quantify perinatal mortality rate within sub-Saharan Africa and to depict sub-regional and country-specific differences.
methodsThis study used cross-sectional data from the most recent demographic and health surveys (2010-2016) conducted in 21 sub-Saharan African countries. The countries were grouped into four sub-regions (Eastern Africa, Western Africa, Southern Africa and Central Africa), and a meta-analysis was conducted to estimate perinatal mortality rate within each of the sub-regions. Significant heterogeneity was detected among the various surveys (I2 > 50%), hence a random effect model was used. Sensitivity analysis was also performed to examine the effects of outliers. Perinatal mortality was defined as pregnancy losses occurring after seven completed months of gestation (stillbirths) and deaths to live births within the first seven days of life (early neonatal deaths).
findingsThe pooled estimate for perinatal mortality rate per 1000 births across 21 countries in the four sub-regions of SSA was 34.7 (95% CI: 32.6, 36.8). Eastern Africa reported 34.5 (95% CI: 32.2, 36.8), with the highest rate observed in Tanzania [39.5 (95% CI: 35.8, 43.4)]. Western Africa reported 35.7 (95% CI: 32.2, 39.3), with the highest rate observed in Nigeria [40.9 (95% CI: 38.3, 43.2)]. Southern Africa reported 30.3 (95% CI: 26.5, 34.0), with the highest rate observed in Lesotho [49.6 (95% CI: 42.3, 57.8)]. Central Africa reported 30.7 (95% CI: 28.0, 33.3), with the highest rate observed in Equatorial Guinea [37.3 (95% CI: 30.5, 45.1)].
conclusionsTo reduce mortality in the perinatal period, interventions should focus on improving access to high quality antenatal and postnatal care, as well as strengthening health care systems within countries in sub-Saharan Africa.
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