Table 1 PCC (Population, Concept, and Context pneumonic) framework for defining the eligibility of the primary question for the scoping review

P-Population

Qualitative, quantitative or mixed methods studies involving free maternal healthcare financing policies: we defined free maternal healthcare policy as any insurance scheme that seeks to eliminate financial barriers associated with the use of maternal and child healthcare services by pregnant and post-natal mothers

C-Concept

Quality of care: quality of maternal healthcare is defined based on client, healthcare provider and health manager perspectives

Sub-Saharan Africa: In this study, sub-Saharan Africa will refer to all countries in the WHO African Region [21]