Preventing vertical transmission of hepatitis B in sub-Saharan Africa: protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis on vaccination uptake and determinants among pregnant women.

Abstract

Effective prevention of maternal-fetal transmission of hepatitis B virus (HBV) in highly endemic settings depends on targeting vaccination efforts to key priority groups, including pregnant women. However, the extent of HBV vaccination and determinants of uptake in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) have not been systematically examined. This systematic review aims to estimate HBV vaccination among pregnant women in SSA and identify the broader factors influencing uptake. This review will follow the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocols (PRISMA) guidelines. A comprehensive literature search will be conducted in MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, African Journals Online and Google Scholar in November 2025. We will include published observational studies that assess HBV vaccination among pregnant women in SSA countries from database inception to October 2025. A meta-analysis will be conducted using random-effects models to pool estimates of HBV vaccination and multivariable-adjusted ORs for vaccination-associated factors. Statistical heterogeneity will be assessed using the I² statistic. Ethical approval is not required as this review will not involve primary data collection. Findings will be published in a peer-reviewed journal, presented at regional and international public health conferences, and, where applicable, shared with policymakers and health authorities in SSA. This protocol is registered with the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews, registration number CRD420251120357.