Exploring self-care practices, experiences, and interventions among adolescents and young adults with type 1 diabetes in Sub-Saharan Africa: a scoping review protocol.

This is a scoping review protocol that will examine self-care practices and interventions for adolescents and young adults aged 10-24 years living with type 1 diabetes in Sub-Saharan Africa. The review aims to identify what is known about diabetes self-care knowledge, attitudes, practices, barriers, facilitators, and existing interventions in this region. Adolescents and young adults with type 1 diabetes in Sub-Saharan Africa face particular challenges including limited healthcare infrastructure, inadequate disease awareness, restricted access to insulin and supplies, and high costs. The review will systematically search multiple databases and synthesise quantitative, qualitative, and grey literature published from 2004 onwards using Joanna Briggs Institute methodology.

Key points

• Type 1 diabetes accounts for 5-10% of all diabetes cases globally and disproportionately affects children and young people in low- and middle-income countries
• Adolescence and young adulthood are critical periods when self-care behaviours are established and influence long-term health outcomes
• In Sub-Saharan Africa, young people with T1D face challenges including limited healthcare infrastructure, inadequate disease awareness, restricted access to insulin and diabetes supplies, and high out-of-pocket costs
• The review will use Joanna Briggs Institute methodology and search five major databases for quantitative, qualitative, systematic reviews and grey literature from 2004 onwards
• Two independent reviewers will screen and extract data, with synthesis using narrative, tabular, graphical, and thematic approaches

Limitations

This document is a protocol rather than a completed review, so it describes only the planned methodology and does not present actual findings or evidence about self-care practices. The specific countries included in Sub-Saharan Africa and the actual studies that will be identified are not yet determined.