Adverse drug reaction reporting by healthcare providers in sub-Saharan Africa: A scoping review of the challenges faced and the strategies to address the challenges

Abstract

Background: Preventable adverse drug reactions (ADR) and adverse events following immunization (AEFI) are more prevalent in patients of low- and middle-income nations compared to high-income countries. Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) experiences more ADR and AEFI for many reasons, including poor quality control of drug products, extensive use of substandard traditional and herbal medicines, environmental influences, and genetic factors. This scoping review aimed to explore the challenges to ADR and AEFI reporting by healthcare providers in SSA and strategies that can be used to address these challenges. Methods: In this scoping review, articles reporting on primary research conducted in SSA to identify challenges to ADR and AEFI reporting and strategies to address these challenges, and published in English, were retrieved from three databases (Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, and PubMed). The quality of the selected quantitative studies was evaluated utilizing the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) 22-item checklist. In contrast, qualitative studies were evaluated for credibility, confirmability, dependability, and transferability. The guidelines specified in the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis Protocols (PRISMA-P) statement were followed in this scoping review. Results: This review revealed several challenges to ADR and AEFI reporting in SSA. The challenges were categorized into healthcare provider-related, work-related, material/tools-related, and national pharmacovigilance activities-related challenges. Several strategies to address the challenges were also revealed and categorized into healthcare providers, reporting material/tools and mechanisms strategies, national or institutional pharmacovigilance, and community engagement strategies. Conclusion: Countries in SSA face several challenges to ADR and AEFI reporting. Strategies identified to improve the reporting of ADR and AEFI should be prioritized so that unnecessary morbidity and mortality are avoided in the region.

Keywords

• Adverse drug reactions reporting
• Adverse events following immunization reporting
• Healthcare providers
• sub-Saharan Africa
• Challenges
• Strategies