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Table 1 Risk of bias assessment criteria for individual studies

From: Trends in maternal and neonatal mortality in South Africa: a systematic review

No.

Criteria

Attributes

Risk of bias

1.

Definition of maternal mortality

❖ ICD-10 maternal death definition [85], or similar

Low

❖ No or unclear definition provided

High

2.

Definition of neonatal mortality

❖ Death of live-born within the first 28 days of life, or similar

Low

❖ No or unclear definition provided

High

3.

Completeness of ascertainment of maternal and neonatal deaths

❖ Prospective recording of mortality data

❖ Mixed methods cross-referencing facility records

❖ Demographic surveillance system with frequent rounds

❖ Survey based on recall of maternal or neonatal deaths ≤ 6 months previously

Low

❖ Survey using direct or indirect sisterhood estimation methods

❖ Demographic surveillance system with infrequent rounds.

High

4.

Completeness of ascertainment of live births

❖ Prospective recording of births data

❖ Use of census < 5 years old for live births

Low

❖ Use of census ≥ 5 years old for live births

❖ Live births data source not stated or unclear

High

5.

Sampling technique/design

❖ Census

❖ Vital registration

❖ Survey using nationally representative sample

❖ Systematic analysis involving the use of data collected from the above method(s)

Low

❖ Design or sampling techniques not stated or unclear

❖ Provincial or sub-national sample used

High

6.

Data quality

❖ Data provide enough information for the study

Low

❖ Insufficient data provided or unclear

High