Normative beliefs and values that shape care-seeking behaviours for skilled birth attendance (SBA) during birthing by mothers in Africa: a scoping review protocol

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. The proposed scoping review aims to map literature on beliefs and values and how mothers are influenced by relational normative motivations in utilisation of SBAs in health facilities. METHODS: We designed and registered a study protocol for a scoping review. Literature searches will be conducted in multiple electronic databases (from January 2000 onwards), including PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus and Web of Science. Grey literature will be identified through searching dissertation databases, Google Scholar, EBSCOhost and ResearchGate. Keyword searches will be used to identify articles. Only articles published in English, related on beliefs and values surrounding childbirth, and on perceptions towards facility delivery or skilled health care providers will be considered eligible for inclusion. Two reviewers will independently screen eligible titles, abstracts and full articles with a third reviewer to help resolve any disputes. The study methodological quality (or bias) will be appraised using the Mixed Method Appraisal Tool. A narrative summary of findings will be conducted. We will employ NVIVO version 10 software package to extract the relevant outcomes from the included articles using content thematic analysis. This protocol is registered with the Open Science Framework (osf.io/9gn76). 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. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13643-021-01629-1.