Palliative Care Development in Africa: Advances and Gaps
Author Information
Author(s): Fernanda Bastos, Eduardo Garralda, Alvaro Montero, John Y. Rhee, Natalia Arias-Casais, Emmanuel Luyirika, Eve Namisango, José Pereira, Carlos Centeno, Vilma A. Tripodoro
Primary Institution: Institute for Culture and Society, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
Hypothesis
Noteworthy development has occurred in palliative care development on the African continent since 2017.
Conclusion
Despite progress in palliative care development across Africa, significant gaps and challenges remain.
Supporting Evidence
- 56.8 million people worldwide need palliative care, with Africa showing the highest demand.
- Since 2017, the number of countries with palliative care services has increased from 19 to 39.
- Adult specialized services have increased to 675 across Africa.
- 29 countries have integrated palliative care education into undergraduate curricula.
- 14 countries have established stand-alone palliative care policies.
Takeaway
This study looks at how palliative care has improved in Africa over the last few years, but there are still many people who need help.
Methodology
A scoping review methodology based on Arksey and O'Malley's framework and the PRISMA-ScR checklist was used to analyze literature from 2017 to 2023.
Potential Biases
Potential publication bias and variability in the quality of included reports.
Limitations
The review may have missed relevant studies due to publication bias and limited database searches.
Participant Demographics
The review included studies from 54 African countries.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
Want to read the original?
Access the complete publication on the publisher's website