Prevalence, knowledge, awareness, attitudes, perceptions and practices of G6PD deficiency among mothers, children and pregnant women.

BACKGROUND: Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency is one of the most common inherited enzymatic disorders worldwide, with significant clinical implications for mothers, children, and pregnant women. Despite its prevalence, knowledge, awareness, and preventive practices remain inadequate, particularly in high-burden regions. This review aimed to systematically synthesise evidence on the prevalence of G6PD deficiency and the knowledge, attitudes, perceptions, and practices surrounding the condition among pregnant women, mothers, and children. METHOD: A systematic review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. Comprehensive searches were performed across PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Web of Science, and CINAHL, supplemented with grey literature sources. Studies published between 2000 and 2025 in English that assessed prevalence and knowledge-related dimensions of G6PD deficiency were eligible. The Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) critical appraisal tools were applied to evaluate study quality, and thematic synthesis was used to analyse the findings. RESULTS: Twenty-seven studies met the inclusion criteria, representing Africa (55.6%), the Middle East (25.9%), Asia (14.8%), and Latin America (3.7%). Prevalence estimates varied widely, from 1.1% in Turkish neonates to 60% among Nigerian pregnant women, with consistent male predominance due to X-linked inheritance. Variant-specific prevalence, such as G6PD A-, Cairo, Mediterranean, and Viangchan, shaped both severity and clinical outcomes, often compounded by anaemia and sickle cell trait. Neonatal jaundice and hyperbilirubinemia were the most frequently reported consequences. Knowledge and awareness of G6PD deficiency were generally poor, with up to 80.2% of mothers reporting inadequate understanding of favism and only 17.1% demonstrating knowledge of the disorder. Attitudes were predominantly negative (55-86.8%), and preventive practices were suboptimal, with as few as 15.8% demonstrating adequate behaviours. Educational interventions, including family-centred empowerment models, yielded significant improvements in maternal knowledge, attitudes, and practices. CONCLUSION: G6PD deficiency remains a significant maternal and child health concern with heterogeneous prevalence influenced by geography, genetics, and co-morbidities. Knowledge and practice gaps among mothers and pregnant women hinder effective prevention and management, contributing to adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes. Targeted health education, routine screening, and culturally tailored interventions are essential to strengthen awareness, promote preventive practices, and reduce complications associated with G6PD deficiency.