{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,18]],"date-time":"2026-09-18T06:09:39Z","timestamp":1789711779917,"version":"4.0.1"},"reference-count":22,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,18]],"date-time":"2026-09-18T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1789689600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Public Health"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is an increasing public health challenge in Africa, contributing substantially to maternal and neonatal morbidity. Evidence from our systematic review, meta-analysis, and bibliometric analysis shows that inconsistent screening practices, reliance on selective rather than universal testing, and limited health system capacity contribute to underdiagnosis and poor pregnancy outcomes. GDM is associated with adverse maternal and neonatal complications and increases the long-term risk of type-2 diabetes for mothers and offspring. Our bibliometric findings reveal uneven research capacity, limited regional collaboration, and evidence gaps across Africa. We propose five policy priorities: standardising GDM screening, strengthening prevention, expanding access to diagnostics and treatment, improving workforce capacity and follow-up, and increasing investment in African-led research to improve maternal health and reduce the intergenerational burden of diabetes.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3389\/fpubh.2026.1953914","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,18]],"date-time":"2026-09-18T05:38:58Z","timestamp":1789709938000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Strengthening gestational diabetes mellitus prevention, diagnosis, and care in Africa: evidence and policy priorities from a systematic review, meta-analysis, and bibliometric analysis"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"14","author":[{"given":"Benjamin Aye","family":"Simon","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Durban University of Technology","place":["Durban, South Africa"]},{"name":"Durban University of Technology","place":["Durban, South Africa"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Lawrence","family":"Chauke","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"University of the Witwatersrand Johannesburg","place":["Johannesburg, South Africa"]},{"name":"Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of the Witwatersrand","place":["Johannesburg, South Africa"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Nalini","family":"Govender","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Durban University of Technology","place":["Durban, South Africa"]},{"name":"Durban University of Technology","place":["Durban, South Africa"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Chester","family":"Kalinda","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Global Health, University of Global Health Equity (UGHE)","place":["Kigali, Rwanda"]},{"name":"Department of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal","place":["Durban, South Africa"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Francis","family":"Akpa-Inyang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Durban University of Technology","place":["Durban, South Africa"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Yasmeen","family":"Thandar","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Durban University of Technology","place":["Durban, South Africa"]},{"name":"Durban University of Technology","place":["Durban, South 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