Mapping Evidence of Community Health Workers Providing Physical Rehabilitation Services in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Scoping Review Protocol

BMJ open. 2022 Mar 29;12(3):e053736. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-053736.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is one of the low-income regions of the world that is affected by the critical shortage of human resources for health amidst a high burden of disease, including physical disability. Community health workers are considered as the possible solution to increase the population’s access to health services, including rehabilitation at the community level. The objective of this scoping review is to map the evidence and reach of physical rehabilitation services provided by community health workers in SSA.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS: Arksey and O’Malley’s framework will be used to guide the scoping review protocol. The database search will be performed using PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane Central and EBSCOhost platform databases. Other sources of literature will include reference lists, conference presentations and publications on websites of organizations such as WHO, Ministries of Health and non-governmental organizations in SSA. The selection will be guided by the inclusion and exclusion criteria. NVivo V.12 assisted thematic content analysis will be performed to present the narrative narrative of the review. The 2018 version Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool will be used to assess the methodological quality of studies.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The review is part of a larger study that has received ethics clearance. The result will be disseminated using print and electronic media.

PMID:35351705 | DO I:10.1136/bmjopen-2021-053736