Missed Opportunities in Preventing Mother-To- Child Transmission of Syphilis in Malawi: A Scoping Review


Authors : Noreen Clara Ng’ambi; George Chikondi Samu; Rubina Karki; Emmanuel Nizeyimana; Julius Niyibizi

Volume/Issue : Volume 11 - 2026, Issue 1 - January


Google Scholar : https://tinyurl.com/4t74rkcc

Scribd : https://tinyurl.com/5n93v69c

DOI : https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/26jan702

Note : A published paper may take 4-5 working days from the publication date to appear in PlumX Metrics, Semantic Scholar, and ResearchGate.


Abstract : The scoping review aimed to examine the missed opportunities towards the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of syphilis in Malawi. Its goal was to determine the scope and nature of existing evidence, summarize current understandings of missed opportunities, and outline operational barriers to effective prevention. The review utilized a systematic approach to select and extract evidence from the literature, applying the prior inclusion and exclusion criteria during the case selection process. Evidence related to various constraints in antenatal settings, limited screening capacity, and missed diagnosis and treatment interventions for pregnant cases is demonstrated in tables and figures. Ultimately, the study results demonstrate continued challenges in preventing congenital transmission of syphilis, integrate evidence to advance policy and practice addressing established research gaps, and outline implications for informing elimination efforts in resource-constrained settings, such as Malawi.

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The scoping review aimed to examine the missed opportunities towards the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of syphilis in Malawi. Its goal was to determine the scope and nature of existing evidence, summarize current understandings of missed opportunities, and outline operational barriers to effective prevention. The review utilized a systematic approach to select and extract evidence from the literature, applying the prior inclusion and exclusion criteria during the case selection process. Evidence related to various constraints in antenatal settings, limited screening capacity, and missed diagnosis and treatment interventions for pregnant cases is demonstrated in tables and figures. Ultimately, the study results demonstrate continued challenges in preventing congenital transmission of syphilis, integrate evidence to advance policy and practice addressing established research gaps, and outline implications for informing elimination efforts in resource-constrained settings, such as Malawi.

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