Pregnancy-related anaemia significantly affects human development across life stages. In sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), country-specific epidemiological variations primarily driven by nutritional practices, socioeconomic factors and health-system disparities contribute to heterogeneity in prevalence, severity and adverse birth outcomes (ABOs). While anaemia and micronutrient deficiencies in pregnancy are well studied globally, comprehensive trimester-specific evidence and their associations with ABOs in SSA remain scarce. This review, therefore, examines the breadth and nature of existing evidence on these associations within SSA, thereby updating current knowledge and informing regionally tailored interventions and future research.

A scoping review methodology will be employed due to the limited volume of literature addressing the specific research questions and population. The review will follow the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) framework, applying the population-concept-context approach. Comprehensive searches will be conducted across CINAHL, MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, Scopus, Google Scholar, EBSCO Open Dissertations and relevant organisational websites. The planned search period will span from 1 January 2016 to 31 December 2025. Two reviewers will independently screen and extract data using JBI-adapted protocols within the Rayyan review platform. Any discrepancies will be resolved via discussion with the research team. Findings will be synthesised narratively through descriptive content analysis and visual mapping.

This review will include peer-reviewed studies and grey literature that investigate the associations between anaemia or deficiencies in iron, folate and vitamin B₁₂ during pregnancy trimesters and ABOs in SSA. All relevant sources of evidence will be considered, regardless of study design or methodology, provided they report on women of reproductive age who experienced anaemia in any trimester and were subsequently identified with ABOs. Birth outcomes of interest include low birth weight, macrosomia, small or large for gestational age, preterm birth, post-term birth and stillbirth. Only sources published in English from 2016 onward will be included. The studies’ quality will be evaluated using Cochrane’s risk of bias assessment and mixed methods appraisal tools and reported according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Review.

This scoping review will not require ethical approval as it will synthesise published data and reports. It has been registered with the Open Science Framework. This review does not involve human participants. The final report will be submitted for publication in a peer-reviewed journal. The findings will be used to shape subsequent research, serving as a fundamental element of the evidence and knowledge mapping framework. As this study protocol was not reviewed by an ethics committee, the appropriate contact for research integrity matters is the Faculty of Health and Environmental Sciences, Auckland University of Technology.

This study aims to identify the key factors driving excessive alcohol and salt consumption in Ghana, both of which are modifiable risk factors for diseases such as cardiovascular conditions and cancers. Using the socio-ecological model (SEM), we qualitatively examine stakeholder perspectives to gain a comprehensive understanding of the influences contributing to these unhealthy consumption patterns.

A qualitative study was conducted using semi-structured interviews. Transcripts were analysed thematically, with identified drivers mapped onto the corresponding levels of influence within the SEM.

The study included 21 purposively sampled stakeholders from government and academic institutions in Ghana, including policymakers, practitioners and researchers.

Drivers of excessive salt and alcohol consumption were identified across all five levels of the SEM. At the intrapersonal level, disregard for health risks was a key factor. Community-level drivers included easy access to unhealthy foods and cultural norms promoting alcohol use at social events and salt in traditional dishes. At the societal and policy levels, inadequate regulation of the alcohol and food industries was found to reinforce lower-level drivers, further encouraging unhealthy consumption.

This study highlights the multilevel influences on alcohol and salt consumption, emphasising the interactions across SEM levels. It highlights that addressing unhealthy consumption is not solely a matter of personal responsibility, demonstrating that societal and policy factors play a significant role in shaping health and dietary behaviours. The findings underscore the need for comprehensive public health strategies that address influences at multiple levels to effectively reduce excessive alcohol and salt intake.