Highlights
- •Most research on MS in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) originates from South Africa
- •Research from SSA has largely been focussed on determining the epidemiology of MS
- •There is a paucity of research on MS focussed on the SSA context
Abstract
Background
The objective of this review is to provide a synthesis of original studies in patients
with MS, originating from sub-Saharan Africa. This review aims to facilitate a better
understanding of the MS academic and health landscape in this region.
Methods
A scoping review of original research was conducted (20th of November 2019) in PubMed, SCOPUS, Web of Science and EBSCO host. A narrative synthesis
of studies was provided and placed in a historical context.
Results
Thirty-one unique studies from sub-Saharan Africa were identified from 846 unique
records. The included studies were predominantly conducted in South Africa (n=24;[77%])
and of case-control (n=11[36%]) or cross-sectional design (n=7[23%]); no randomized
clinical trials were identified. Most studies focussed on understanding the epidemiology
of MS, the risk of MS in specific ethnic populations, and how this may contribute
to identifying the underlying causal pathways.
Conclusion
Albeit scarce, the research conducted in sub-Saharan Africa largely followed international
trends. There is a paucity of studies that have been conducted with the primary aim
of understanding MS patient care across the continuum, and management of MS in an
African context. The latter may become of increasing importance in the light of an
increasing prevalence of MS in this region, as well as the increasing noncommunicable
disease epidemic.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: April 18, 2020
Accepted:
April 13,
2020
Received in revised form:
March 26,
2020
Received:
January 1,
2020
Identification
Copyright
© 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
