Table 3 Subgroup analysis of studies included in the meta-analysis of adherence to option B + ART among pregnant and breastfeeding women in SSA

Women’s status

0.11

 Pregnancy

22

7,667

71.9 (66.8–76.4)

94

 < 0.01

 Breastfeeding

04

2,299

61.1 (49.0–72.0)

94

 < 0.01

 Pregnancy & breastfeeding

16

5,192

75.8 (67.2–82.7)

98

 < 0.01

Year of publication

0.32

 Before 2018

10

3,927

67.6 (55.0–78.0)

98

 < 0.01

 After 2018

32

11,231

73.6 (69.5–77.3)

95

 < 0.01

Instrument measure

 < 0.01

 Self-report

26

9,284

75.2 (71.7–78.5)

93

 < 0.01

 Combined measures (≥ 2)

07

2,653

75.5 (64.9–83.7)

86

 < 0.01

 Pill count/Pharmacy refill

04

763

45.1 (35.3–55.2)

95

 < 0.01

 Others**

04

2,328

68.0 (45.9–84.1)

99

 < 0.01

 Not reported

01

130^(b)

-

-

-

Regions of SSA

 < 0.01

 Eastern

17

3,983

74.8 (67.7–80.9)

95

 < 0.01

 Southern

14

9,041

70.8 (67.5–73.9)

97

 < 0.01

 Western

08

1,720

71.6 (56.9–82.8)

97

 < 0.01

 Central

02

315 ^(b)

-

-

-

 Southern & Western^(a)

01

99 ^(b)

-

-

-

Design of study

 < 0.01

 Cross-sectional

29

9,000

76.2 (71.7–80.1)

95

 < 0.01

 Cohort

08

3,256

63.0 (54.4–70.9)

94

 < 0.01

 RCT

05

2,902

62.8 (47.2–76.1)

98

 < 0.01

Time frame

0.23

 Last 7 days

16

5,073

75.4 (68.5–81.2)

96

 < 0.01

 Last 15–30 days

17

6,530

70.7(62.5–77.7)

98

 < 0.01

 Last 90 days

03

2,440

66.5 (61.1–71.6)

80

 < 0.01

 Not reported

06

1,115

70.8 (62.8–77.8)

85

 < 0.01

Quality of study

0.01

 Satisfactory

26

11,593

74.2 (68.7–79.0)

98

 < 0.01

 Unsatisfactory

14

2,647

69.5 (62.8–75.4)

91

 < 0.01

 Good

01

485^(b)

-

-

-

 Very good

01

170^(b)

-

-

-