Mapping evidence of community health workers delivering physical rehabilitation services in sub-Saharan Africa: a scoping review protocol

Abstract

Introduction Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is one of the low-income regions in the world which is affected by the critical shortage of human resources for health amid a high disease burden, including physical disability. Community health workers are viewed as the possible solution to increase population access to health services, including rehabilitation at the community level. The purpose of this scoping review is to map the evidence and scope of physical rehabilitation services delivered by community health workers in SSA.Methods and analysis The framework by Arksey and O’Malley will be used to guide the scoping review protocol. Database searching will be conducted using PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane Central and databases within the EBSCOhost platform. Other sources of literature will include reference lists, conference presentations and publications on organisational websites such as WHO, Ministries of Health, and Non-governmental Organisations in SSA. The screening will be guided by the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Thematic content analysis aided by NVivo V.12 will be done to present the narrative account of the review. The Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool version 2018 will be used to evaluate the methodological quality of the studies.Ethics and dissemination The review is part of a larger study that has received ethical clearance. The result will be disseminated using print and electronic media.