Abstract
BACKGROUND: Health services and supplementation for pregnant women in Low and middle-income countries (LMICs) remain a vital public health challenge. Global efforts are hindered by collapsing health systems in many regions, largely due to international aid cuts that exacerbate mortality and suffering. This scoping review examines the challenges of funding cuts for supplies for maternal and newborn health (MNH) in resource-limited settings. OBJECTIVE: To examine the challenges of fund cuts/contractions on supplies for MNH in LMICs. METHODS: For this scoping review, a thorough search strategy was created using words found in titles and abstracts. Studies published in English from 2015 to 2025 were included in the search. The search results and study selection process were reported following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) flow diagram. Eligible studies were screened and analyzed using Rayyan at https://new.rayyan.ai/rev . Data extraction was led by the studies included in Microsoft Excel spreadsheets. The findings were presented in narration, table, and figure to aid in data presentation. RESULTS: For this scoping review, four databases were searched. The search yielded 982 records across all databases, and 169 duplicates were excluded. When screening titles and abstracts, 770 from 813 studies were excluded. Of the 43 remaining studies that underwent full-text review, 28 were excluded. and 15 articles were included. Key challenges of funding cuts were exacerbated by weak domestic financing, policy gaps, and heavy reliance on external donor support, which worsens maternal and newborn morbidity and mortality. CONCLUSION: Identified challenges underscore the need for strategic solutions for filling gaps and challenges for innovative financing to sustain maternal and newborn health programs.