Objective:
To map the literature on healthcare provider training in MPDSR, describe existing training programs, assess their content and effectiveness, and identify challenges and opportunities for improvement.
Methods: A systematic search of Medline, CINAHL, EMBASE, and grey literature was conducted to identify MPDSR training programs. Records were screened for eligibility based on relevance, focusing on healthcare providers involved in MPDSR. The review analyzed content, delivery methods, and effectiveness of training programs through descriptive and thematic analysis to highlight trends and challenges.
Results:
The search yielded 2,716 screened records and 12 reports were assessed in full text for eligibility. Five studies were included in the final review. The training evaluations highlighted several studies, including the QUARITE project in Senegal and Mali, which demonstrated improved maternal care through risk management training. The IMPROVE initiative, a global program, enhanced perinatal death review knowledge. In India, MPDSR workshops increased knowledge of maternal death causes, while Australia’s eLearning platform bolstered perinatal mortality management. Country-specific MPDSR materials cover diverse content and delivery methods but lack long-term evaluations. Training gaps include the underrepresentation of perinatal death data, inconsistent ICD coding, and virtual training challenges in low-resource areas.
Conclusion: MPDSR training enhances maternal and perinatal death surveillance by improving healthcare providers' knowledge and confidence. Its effectiveness relies on context-specific adaptations, balancing in-person and virtual delivery, and comprehensive evaluations. Addressing perinatal data gaps, ICD coding, and digital access will strengthen the impact, while sustainable, standardized curricula and evaluations are crucial.