Normative Beliefs and Values Shape Mother’s Care Seeking Behaviours for Skilled Birth Attendance (Sba) During Birthing in Africa: A Scoping Review Protocol

Abstract

Background: Skilled birth attendance (SBA) during delivery has been associated with improved maternal health outcome. However, low utilisation of SBA during childbirth has continued in many developing countries including Zambia. An understanding of the beliefs and values and how mothers are influenced by relational normative motivations is critical in understanding some “hidden” barriers and facilitators to utilisation of SBA in health facilities.Methods: A scoping review of normative beliefs and values shaping care seeking behaviours for Skilled Birth Attendance by mothers in Africa will be conducted. Google scholar, PubMed, EBSCOhost, SCOPUS, Embase and WEB of Science will be searched for articles that meet the eligibility criteria. The primary search will include peer-reviewed articles. Further searches will be made on Research gate, including grey literature from university websites for dissertations and theses. We will also search reference lists for relevant articles and studies. Keyword searches will be used to identify articles. Two independent reviewers will begin screening for eligible titles, abstracts and full articles with a third reviewer to help resolve any disputes. During title and abstract screening, duplicates will be removed. Study selection will conform to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines, and the Mixed Method Appraisal Tool will determine the quality of included studies. Content analysis will be used to present the narrative Discussion: Understanding how individual mother’s health seeking behaviours for SBA and those close to them are influenced by their beliefs and values is critical to informing health systems on the possible “hidden” barriers and facilitators to utilisation of SBA in public health facilities. The review will complement evidence base on normative beliefs and values shaping care seeking behaviours for Skilled Birth Attendance by mothers in Africa.