Global Prevalence of Gestational Diabetes Across Healthcare Settings: A Management-Focused Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

This project is a management-focused systematic review and meta-analysis aiming to estimate the global prevalence of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) across healthcare settings using studies published between 2010 and 2025. The review synthesizes population-based and healthcare-based observational evidence to quantify pooled and regional prevalence estimates and to compare GDM prevalence across community, primary, secondary, and tertiary care contexts. In addition, the review examines how screening strategies, diagnostic criteria, and management-related healthcare environments contribute to variability in reported prevalence. The study follows established systematic review and meta-analysis methods to ensure transparency, reproducibility, and relevance for clinical practice, health system planning, and policy. This protocol is intended for registration on the Open Science Framework (OSF). The protocol is generated for transparency and methodological clarity and is not derived from a previously published or registered protocol.