title: Existing Models of Maternal Death Surveillance Systems: Protocol for a Scoping Review.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Maternal mortality measurement remains a critical challenge, particularly in low and middle income countries (LMICs) where little or no data are available and maternal mortality and morbidity are often the highest in the world. Despite the progress made in data collection, underreporting and translating the results into action are two major challenges that maternal death surveillance systems (MDSSs) face in LMICs.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This paper presents a protocol for a scoping review aimed at synthesizing the existing models of MDSSs and factors that influence their completeness and usefulness.
  
  
  METHODS
  The methodology for scoping reviews from the Joanna Briggs Institute was used as a guide for developing this protocol. A comprehensive literature search will be conducted across relevant electronic databases. We will include all articles that describe MDSSs or assess their completeness or usefulness. At least two reviewers will independently screen all articles, and discrepancies will be resolved through discussion. The same process will be used to extract data from studies fulfilling the eligibility criteria. Data analysis will involve quantitative and qualitative methods.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Currently, the abstracts screening is under way and the first results are expected to be publicly available by mid-2017. The synthesis of the reviewed materials will be presented in tabular form completed by a narrative description. The results will be classified in main conceptual categories that will be obtained during the results extraction.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We anticipate that the results will provide a broad overview of MDSSs and describe factors related to their completeness and usefulness. The results will allow us to identify research gaps concerning the barriers and facilitating factors facing MDSSs. Results will be disseminated through publication in a peer-reviewed journal and conferences as well as domestic and international agencies in charge of implementing MDSS.
authors.affiliation: Ecole Nationale de Santé Publique, Rabat, Morocco. s.abouchadi@yahoo.fr.
authors.forename: Saloua
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9060-104X
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Abouchadi
authors.forename: Asm
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8543-0517
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shahabuddin
authors.forename: Wei Hong
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0380-770X
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Tabassum
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1984-4495
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Firoz
authors.forename: Yvon
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3919-6755
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Englert
authors.forename: Chakib
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9610-8507
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nejjari
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8560-6041
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: De Brouwere
keywords: completeness; maternal mortality; protocol; scoping review; surveillance systems; usefulness