Effectiveness of digital self-assessment and support tools for improving maternal and child health in Africa: a protocol of a systematic review

Maternal and neonatal mortality remain urgent public health challenges, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, which accounts for around 70% of maternal deaths worldwide. Digital self-assessment and support tools, which let women and caregivers enter health information, assess symptoms or risks, and receive tailored feedback, may improve access to timely care. However, evidence of their effectiveness in African settings is scattered and has not been quantitatively synthesised. This systematic review aims to synthesise evidence on the effectiveness of digital self-assessment and support tools in improving maternal and child health outcomes in African settings. This protocol follows the PRISMA-P 2015 statement, and the completed review will be reported according to PRISMA 2020. Eligible studies will include quantitative evaluations of mHealth self-assessment or support interventions targeting women of reproductive age, newborns, or children under five in Africa. A comprehensive search strategy will be applied across PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, CINAHL, AJOL, Google Scholar, and grey literature sources. Study quality will be appraised using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) checklist. Data synthesis will combine narrative and, where feasible, meta-analysis. The review will map the range of digital self-assessment and support tools currently deployed in African contexts, assess their effectiveness in improving MCH outcomes (antenatal care utilisation, skilled birth attendance, maternal morbidity and mortality, neonatal mortality; secondary: knowledge, birth preparedness, acceptability, adherence, cost-effectiveness, equity), and identify contextual enablers and barriers to adoption. By consolidating fragmented evidence, this review will inform researchers, policymakers, and practitioners on best practices and context-specific strategies for integrating digital tools into African health systems. Findings will provide insights to advance Sustainable Development Goal 3 and support equitable maternal and child health improvements. Our systematic review protocol is registered with the international Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO: CRD420251158174).