title: Perspectives on the methods of a large systematic mapping of maternal health interventions.
abstract: Mapping studies describe a broad body of literature, and differ from classical systematic reviews, which assess more narrowly-defined questions and evaluate the quality of the studies included in the review. While the steps involved in mapping studies have been described previously, a detailed qualitative account of the methodology could inform the design of future mapping studies.
  
  
  
  Describe the perspectives of a large research team on the methods used and collaborative experiences in a study that mapped the literature published on maternal health interventions in low- and middle-income countries (2292 full text articles included, after screening 35,048 titles and abstracts in duplicate).
  
  
  
  Fifteen members of the mapping team, drawn from eight countries, provided their experiences and perspectives of the study in response to a list of questions and probes. The responses were collated and analysed thematically following a grounded theory approach.
  
  
  
  The objectives of the mapping evolved over time, posing difficulties in ensuring a uniform understanding of the purpose of the mapping among the team members. Ambiguity of some study variables and modifications in data extraction codes were the main threats to the quality of data extraction. The desire for obtaining detailed information on a few topics needed to be weighed against the benefits of collecting more superficial data on a wider range of topics. Team members acquired skills in systematic review methodology and software, and a broad knowledge of maternal health literature. Participation in analysis and dissemination was lower than during the screening of articles for eligibility and data coding. Though all respondents believed the workload involved was high, study outputs were viewed as novel and important contributions to evidence. Overall, most believed there was a favourable balance between the amount of work done and the project's outputs.
  
  
  
  A large mapping of literature is feasible with a committed team aiming to build their research capacity, and with a limited, simplified set of data extraction codes. In the team's view, the balance between the time spent on the review, and the outputs and skills acquired was favourable. Assessments of the value of a mapping need, however, to take into account the limitations inherent in such exercises, especially the exclusion of grey literature and of assessments of the quality of the studies identified.
authors: Wits Reproductive Health and HIV Institute, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa. mchersich@wrhi.ac.za.|Centre for Health Policy and MRC Health Policy Research Group, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa. mchersich@wrhi.ac.za.
authors: Matthew
authors: M
authors: Chersich
authors: Centre for Health Systems Research, National Institute of Public Health (Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública), Cuernavaca, Mexico.
authors: Victor
authors: V
authors: Becerril-Montekio
authors: Pan American Health Organization, Washington D.C, USA.
authors: Francisco
authors: F
authors: Becerra-Posada
authors: Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Society, Gender and Health Unit, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland.|University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
authors: Mari
authors: M
authors: Dumbaugh
authors: Centre for Health Policy and MRC Health Policy Research Group, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
authors: Josephine
authors: J
authors: Kavanagh
authors: Centre for Health Policy and MRC Health Policy Research Group, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
authors: Duane
authors: D
authors: Blaauw
authors: Centre for Health Policy and MRC Health Policy Research Group, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
authors: Siphiwe
authors: S
authors: Thwala
authors: Centre for Health Policy and MRC Health Policy Research Group, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
authors: Elinor
authors: E
authors: Kern
authors: Centre for Health Policy and MRC Health Policy Research Group, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.|Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom.
authors: Loveday
authors: L
authors: Penn-Kekana
authors: Centre for Health Systems Research, National Institute of Public Health (Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública), Cuernavaca, Mexico.|Innovation in Public Health Department, National Institute of Health, Bogotá D.C, Colombia.
authors: Emily
authors: E
authors: Vargas
authors: Centre for Health Policy and MRC Health Policy Research Group, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.|Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Society, Gender and Health Unit, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland.
authors: Langelihle
authors: L
authors: Mlotshwa
authors: Centre for Health Policy and MRC Health Policy Research Group, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
authors: Ashar
authors: A
authors: Dhana
authors: Centre for International Health, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors: Priya
authors: P
authors: Mannava
authors: Department of Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors: Anayda
authors: A
authors: Portela
authors: IHCAI Foundation, San Jose, Costa Rica.
authors: Mario
authors: M
authors: Tristan
authors: Wits Reproductive Health and HIV Institute, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.|London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom.
authors: Helen
authors: H
authors: Rees
authors: Radboud University Medical Center, Radboud Institute for Health Sciences, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
authors: Leon
authors: L
authors: Bijlmakers
mesh_terms: D003906:Developing Countries; D006801:Humans; D007391:International Cooperation; D008427:Maternal Health Services / Q000592:standards*; D012106:Research / Q000592:standards*
keywords: Health systems; Mapping of research; Maternal health; Research methodology; Scoping review; Systematic mapping