African Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine最新文献

{"title":"Psychological distress among undergraduate health sciences students in Uganda.","authors":"Nakitende Naswiibah, Richard Muhindo","doi":"10.4102/phcfm.v17i1.4749","DOIUrl":"10.4102/phcfm.v17i1.4749","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong> Psychological distress (PD) is a prevalent concern among undergraduate health science students globally. Despite this, data specific to Uganda is limited.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong> This study assessed the prevalence of PD among undergraduate health sciences students in Uganda.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong> We obtained data on the psychological distress burden using self-administered DASS-21 questionnaires. Data were analysed using SPSS version 20.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong> We enrolled 398 participants, of whom 217 (54.5%) were males. The median age of the participants was 22 years (interquartile range [IQR], 21 to 24). Of the participants, more than half (57%) had moderate to severe symptoms of anxiety. Nearly half of them (42%) reported moderate to severe symptoms of depression, while 26% of the students had moderate to severe symptoms of stress.</p><p><strong>Lessons learnt: </strong> This study highlights significant psychological distress among health science students at Makerere University, with high levels of anxiety, depression and stress. It emphasises the need for improved mental health support in academic settings, aligning with the African Journal of Primary Health Care Family Medicine's focus on contextual healthcare challenges.</p>","PeriodicalId":47037,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine","volume":"17 1","pages":"e1-e6"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2025-03-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11966710/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143765045","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Diet and sociodemographic predictors of the double burden of malnutrition in urban Zimbabwe.","authors":"Simbarashe Kasanzu, Joconiah Chirenda, Anesu Marume","doi":"10.4102/phcfm.v17i1.4834","DOIUrl":"10.4102/phcfm.v17i1.4834","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong> Rapid urbanisation in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) has intensified the double burden of malnutrition, where undernutrition and overnutrition coexist in the same populationAim: This study aimed to examine the point prevalence rate and risk factors of the double burden of malnutrition among adults in urban Zimbabwe.</p><p><strong>Setting: </strong> The study was conducted in Zimbabwe's two metropolitan provinces (Harare and Bulawayo).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong> A cross-sectional study of 348 urban adults explored associations between dietary intake, socio-demographics and anthropometrics using means, frequencies, and logistic regression.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong> Obesity prevalence was 23.6%, and underweight prevalence was 8.6%. Men had higher odds of being underweight than women (Adjusted Odds Ratio 2.30, 95% CI 1.20-4.41), while high household income increased the odds of obesity (Adjusted Odds Ratio 2.90, 95% CI 1.47-5.60). A fruit and vegetable-rich diet reduced the odds of obesity by 47% (Adjusted Odds Ratio 0.53, 95% CI 0.26-0.89), whereas a diet dominated by staples and sugary foods increased the risk of obesity.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong> Obesity and underweight were common among urban adults in Zimbabwe, where both undernutrition and overnutrition pose significant health risks. Public health interventions in LMICs should broaden their focus to address adult malnutrition and its contribution to diet-related non-communicable diseases (NCDs).Contribution: The double burden of malnutrition underscores an urgent need for comprehensive public health strategies in LMICs. Efforts should move beyond childhood undernutrition to address the entire spectrum of malnutrition. Tackling these challenges holistically will be key to mitigating undernutrition, curbing rising obesity rates, and, in turn, reversing the tide of diet-related NCDs.</p>","PeriodicalId":47037,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine","volume":"17 1","pages":"e1-e7"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2025-03-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11966720/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143765368","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Preoperative risk factors for extended hospital stay: A prospective study in a South African clinic.","authors":"Kuven Naidu, Nabeela Kajee, Jayseelan Naidu, Bilaal Wadee","doi":"10.4102/phcfm.v17i1.4781","DOIUrl":"10.4102/phcfm.v17i1.4781","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong> Preoperative assessment clinics play a critical role in identifying, evaluating and mitigating perioperative risks. Despite global data highlighting the importance of preoperative risk factors on surgical outcomes, there remains limited information on their impact on post-operative length of stay (LOS) in South African contexts.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong> This study aimed to describe the demographic and clinical profiles of patients referred to a preoperative clinic as well as factors associated with post-operative extended LOS.</p><p><strong>Setting: </strong> The preoperative clinic is based in the city of Johannesburg in South Africa.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong> This was a prospective cohort study conducted between 2021 and 2022 at a private clinic in patients undergoing non-cardiac surgery. Data on demographics, co-morbidities, surgical procedures and clinical outcomes were collected. Statistical analysis was performed to assess relationships between preoperative risk factors, including ASA grading, Revised Cardiac Risk Index (RCRI), estimated glomerular filtration rate, diabetes mellitus, age, obesity and LOS.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong> A total of 214 patients were assessed, of which 75.7% were female, with a median age of 62.5 years. Common co-morbidities included hypertension (59.3%) and obesity (55%). The median LOS was 3.5 days, with 47.2% of patients staying more than 3 days post-operatively. Knee (33.2%) and hip surgeries (21%) were the most common procedures. A significant association was found between longer LOS and RCRI score ≥ 1 (p = 0.007), renal dysfunction in knee surgery patients (p = 0.027) and age in patients undergoing hip surgery (p = 0.049).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong> Findings note the need for targeted intereventions in preoperative care to reduce LOS, particularly for high-risk patients.Contribution: This study highlights the fact that preoperative information may play a significant role in patient's outcomes post surgery. Further research is needed to validate these results across broader healthcare settings.</p>","PeriodicalId":47037,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine","volume":"17 1","pages":"e1-e10"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2025-03-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11966734/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143764938","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Limitations of point-of-care testing for low SARS CoV-2 loads: Insights for future pandemics.","authors":"Ivy Rukasha","doi":"10.4102/phcfm.v17i1.4671","DOIUrl":"10.4102/phcfm.v17i1.4671","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong> The emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has seen a surge in the development of diagnostic assays. However, the performance of antigen point-of-care tests (Ag-POCTs) on samples with low viral load has not been evaluated.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong> To evaluate the accuracy of three World Health Organization (WHO) certified Ag-POCTs in comparison to the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) technique.</p><p><strong>Setting: </strong> The study was conducted at Pietersburg Hospital Limpopo, South Africa between March 2020 and April 2023.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong> A total of 371 SARS-CoV-2 nasopharyngeal samples from the National Health Laboratory Service were tested using Ag-POCTs from Abbott Panbio, Roche RDT and SD Biosensor, following manufacturer instructions. All samples had RT-PCR results with Ct values between 13 and 45. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction results were compared and correlated with Ag-POCT results.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong> Of the 371 samples, the SD Biosensor Standard Q test kit detected the most positive isolates 166 (44.7%), followed by the Abbott Panbio. A total of 153 (41.2%) positives, while the Roche SD detected 134 (36.1%) samples. High viral load (Ct 25) sensitivity and specificity exceeded 77%, while intermediate (Ct 25-35) and low viral load (Ct 35) sensitivity and sensitivity dropped to 32% and 7%, respectively.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong> The performance rapid antigen tests was low on samples with low viral load with results markedly different from the manufacturer's reported performance.Contribution: Rapid antigen tests should not be used alone for diagnosis, especially in samples with low viral load.</p>","PeriodicalId":47037,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine","volume":"17 1","pages":"e1-e7"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2025-03-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11966669/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143764929","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Epidemiology of hypertension among patients with type 2 diabetes in the Democratic Republic of Congo.","authors":"Xoliswa Simelane, Jean-Pierre Fina-Lubaki, Joel M Francis","doi":"10.4102/phcfm.v17i1.4712","DOIUrl":"10.4102/phcfm.v17i1.4712","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong> Hypertension is a common comorbidity among patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and is associated with poorer treatment outcomes.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong> To describe the epidemiology of hypertension among patients with T2D in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo.</p><p><strong>Setting: </strong> A multisite study among 20 randomly selected health facilities in Kinshasa.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong> This was an analytical cross-sectional study among 620 participants with T2D. The overall prevalence of hypertension and uncontrolled hypertension was determined. Multivariable mixed effects logistic regression determined factors associated with hypertension and hypertension control among participants with T2D.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong> One-third (34.7%) of study participants were classified as having hypertension. The factors associated with hypertension were unemployment (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.93, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.18-3.17), overweight (aOR = 2.71; 95% CI: 1.78-4.13), diabetes duration ≥ 5 years (aOR = 1.84, 95% CI: 1.24-2.73), protestant religion (aOR = 0.48, 95% CI: 0.29-0.82) and severe diabetes distress (aOR = 0.47; 95% CI: 0.28-0.79). The prevalence of uncontrolled hypertension among participants with diabetes-hypertension comorbidity was 50.2%. Being overweight was associated with uncontrolled hypertension (aOR = 2.02; 95% CI: 1.08-3.79).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong> Hypertension was common among patients with T2D in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and in most patients it was uncontrolled. There is a need to strengthen the hypertension prevention and control strategies among patients with T2D, including lifestyle modifications to maintain optimal body weight.Contribution: This study provides insight into the diabetes-hypertension comorbidity in an African urban setting.</p>","PeriodicalId":47037,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine","volume":"17 1","pages":"e1-e9"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2025-03-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11966679/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143765370","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Self-management knowledge, attitudes and practices among persons with type 2 diabetes in Ghana.","authors":"Beatrice B Johnson, Mary A Jarvis, Jennifer A Chipps","doi":"10.4102/phcfm.v17i1.4696","DOIUrl":"10.4102/phcfm.v17i1.4696","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong> Diabetes is one of the major non-communicable diseases. Diabetes self-management has been identified as a key strategy to reduce complications and to improve health outcomes.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong> This study aimed to investigate the diabetes self-management knowledge, attitude and practices among people with type-2 diabetes in Ghana.</p><p><strong>Setting: </strong> Two clinics for diabetes patients in the Ho municipality of Ghana were selected to conduct the study.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong> An outpatient cross-sectional survey was conducted using a 57-item researcher-administered questionnaire based on the Information, Motivation, Behaviours Model adopted for Diabetes. A total of 321 patients with type 2 diabetes were randomly selected from the two outpatient clinics for diabetes in Ho, Ghana. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and multiple linear regression modules were conducted to determine the predictors of self-management practices. Significance was set at p  0.05.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong> The average score for knowledge was 11.37/24 ± 3.40 or 47%, indicating poor levels of diabetes self-management knowledge. Moderately positive attitudes were found (2.83/5 ± 1.57) [95% CI -1.86 to -3.80] with poor self-management practices with a median of 3.00 per week (maximum 5.20, minimum 0.60 per week). Knowledge explained 20% of variation in self-management practice.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong> The findings from this study show an overall deficit in knowledge of diabetes with related low self-management practice. This suggests the need for robust self-management education programmes to improve access to diabetes self-management-related information.Contribution: This study highlights the important knowledge of diabetes in self-management.</p>","PeriodicalId":47037,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine","volume":"17 1","pages":"e1-e10"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2025-03-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11966687/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143765326","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Family Medicine for internally displaced persons in Mali: A training of trainers approach.","authors":"Drissa M Sidibé, Ann Isabelle Grégoire, Véronique Lisée, Pierre Rodrigue Traoré, Inhissa B Bengaly, Aboubakary Konaté, Ibrahim H Sidibé, Sabina Abou Malham, David-Martin Milot, Gabriel Blouin-Genest","doi":"10.4102/phcfm.v17i1.4826","DOIUrl":"10.4102/phcfm.v17i1.4826","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Mali is currently experiencing a polycrisis, characterised by the interplay of growing socio-political insecurity, massive population displacements and recurrent tensions in the functioning of the health system and the provision of care. In this context, the multidisciplinary teams of University Community Health Centres (CSCoM-Us), primary health care facilities, have expressed the desire to strengthen their skills to better meet the needs of the internally displaced persons who frequent their facilities. To address this demand, training workshops were co-constructed by a team of family physicians (FPs), combining the experiential knowledge of local teams with the expertise of partners from the Université de Sherbrooke. A Training of Trainer (ToT) programme, consisting of training provided by central-level trainers to local-level practitioners, was developed and deployed. Five priorities were identified by local partners: continuity of care, maternal health, gender-based violence, mental health and working with a language barrier. From 2022 to 2023, this training was implemented in Mali's seven CSCOM-Us, reaching 277 health professionals in five regions of the country. The outcomes include increased awareness of the challenges faced by internally displaced persons and strengthening local capabilities. This short report highlights the strategic role and leadership played by FP in improving the population's health, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, through their versatility and community-oriented, holistic and patient-centred approach.</p>","PeriodicalId":47037,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine","volume":"17 1","pages":"e1-e5"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2025-03-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11966657/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143764381","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Risk of child undernutrition in households with life-limiting illness: A cross-sectional study.","authors":"Janni B Petersen, Irene Naleba, Josephine Namugambe, Sofine Heilskov, Per Kallestrup","doi":"10.4102/phcfm.v17i1.4773","DOIUrl":"10.4102/phcfm.v17i1.4773","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong> An ongoing challenge within the field of undernutrition is to identify children at risk.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong> The objective of this study was to investigate whether children who are living in households inhabiting a household member with a life-limiting illness are at risk of undernutrition.</p><p><strong>Setting: </strong> A comparative cross-sectional study was performed in Uganda.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong> We collected anthropometric data on children under the age of five and information on household dietary diversity, food security and healthcare barriers. Study participants for the hypothesised high-risk group were recruited within households receiving home-based palliative care. The comparison group included neighbouring households.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong> Data collection from 145 paired households was performed from April to July 2021. There was no statistically significant difference in prevalence of undernutrition. For all continuous nutrition indicators there was a trend towards less undernutrition in the hypothesised high-risk group than in the comparison group. We found lower overall prevalence of acute malnutrition than expected. The hypothesised high-risk group was associated with higher food insecurity than the comparison group.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong> Lower overall acute malnutrition than expected may be because of the season variability. Stunting was higher than expected in both groups, which may suggest season variability in undernutrition. The results suggest a protective effect of receiving home-based palliative care on child nutritional status.Contribution: The study did not show a risk of child undernutrition in households inhabiting a household member with life-limiting illness. Future research may identify key elements responsible for the potential protective effects of home-based palliative care on child undernutrition.</p>","PeriodicalId":47037,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine","volume":"17 1","pages":"e1-e8"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2025-03-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11966726/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143765006","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Barriers to completion of maternal and neonatal continuum of care services in Assosa Zone, north-western Ethiopia.","authors":"Solomon Abtew, Rose M Mmusi-Phetoe","doi":"10.4102/phcfm.v17i1.4718","DOIUrl":"10.4102/phcfm.v17i1.4718","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong> The continuum of care (CoC) in maternal and neonatal services among women in Ethiopia was low because of individual and cultural barriers.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong> This study aims to identify factors that hindered the utilisation of the CoC services.</p><p><strong>Setting: </strong> The study took place in the Assosa Zone of north-western Ethiopia.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong> A qualitative study using audio-taped individual interviews was conducted. A total of 52 study participants were purposefully recruited from the Assosa Zone. Thematic analysis was employed to identify major themes and categories from the transcripts.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong> Findings revealed the economic situation of women as the underlying barrier to women accessing and utilising maternal and neonatal CoC services. Presumably, high transport and medical costs and the inability to pay the raised costs were drivers to discontinuity of the CoC of maternal and neonatal services. Other barriers to utilisation of CoC services were found to be workload in the households, secreting pregnancy, traditional beliefs, husbands' attitude and religion, awareness gaps in pregnancy, and maternal and neonatal care. These factors are thus regarded as important barriers to the utilisation of continuity of care in maternal and neonatal services in Ethiopia.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong> Moreover, economic, cultural and religious factors, maternal awareness and husbands featured as significant barriers to the utilisation of maternal and neonatal CoC services in Ethiopia.Contribution: The findings revealed the economic situation of women as a barrier to the CoC in maternal and neonatal services utilisation, manifesting itself in unaffordable transport and medication user fees.</p>","PeriodicalId":47037,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine","volume":"17 1","pages":"e1-e12"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2025-03-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11966695/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143765366","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Implementation of mHealth to support cancer diagnosis in Sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review.","authors":"Kirsten D Arendse, Grace A Baby, Teffanie T M Maramba, Jennifer Moodley, Fiona M Walter, Suzanne E Scott","doi":"10.4102/phcfm.v17i1.4683","DOIUrl":"10.4102/phcfm.v17i1.4683","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong> A reduction in communicable diseases in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) over recent decades has led to an increased life expectancy and non-communicable diseases such as cancer. However, cancer services in SSA remain inadequate. With increasing mobile use, mobile health (mHealth) has the potential to expand healthcare access.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong> This systematic review aims to synthesise literature reporting on barriers and facilitators to the implementation and use of mHealth tools by patients or the public to support symptomatic cancer diagnosis in SSA.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong> A comprehensive literature search was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses. Two researchers independently conducted title and abstract screening, full-text review and data extraction. Extraction templates were compared and data were synthesised. Quality was assessed using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong> Of 7695 records identified, three quantitative and two mixed-methods studies were included, published between 2016 and 2022. The studies focused on Kaposi's sarcoma, cervical cancer, breast cancer and any cancer. Three inter-related themes describe the barriers and facilitators: (1) user or population-related factors including access to mobile devices and connectivity, and language literacy; (2) mHealth tool-related factors such as tool accessibility and language translation; and (3) structural, societal or systemic factors such as sociocultural significance and stigma.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong> Although SSA countries experienced similar challenges to mHealth tool use as high-income nations, some barriers such as limited mobile devices and connectivity were more severely evident.Contribution: The study findings can be used to guide future mHealth tool design and implementation strategies that are relevant to SSA.</p>","PeriodicalId":47037,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine","volume":"17 1","pages":"e1-e13"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2025-03-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11966713/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143764928","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}