Community-based approaches to preconception care in Africa: A mixed methods systematic review protocol

Background: Preconception care (PCC) is vital for maternal and child health in Africa, yet traditional healthcare systems often inadequately address preconception health needs. Community-based approaches offer promise by leveraging existing community structures and resources. This systematic review protocol aims to synthesise evidence on the uptake, barriers, impact, and contextual factors of community-based preconception care in Africa. Methods: Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, this mixed methods systematic review will employ a convergent synthesis design, integrating qualitative and quantitative findings through narrative synthesis and meta-analysis as appropriate. Comprehensive searches across relevant databases and institutional repositories will be conducted, including studies from inception to 2024. Both quantitative and qualitative research designs will be included, with data extraction and screening performed by two independent groups of reviewers. Expected outcomes include uptake of PCC, barriers to PCC uptake, the effect of community-based approaches on uptake of PCC, and factors influencing the effectiveness of community-based PCC approaches