Mapping social determinants of health data in sub-Saharan Africa: a scoping review protocol

Abstract

Introduction Research has increasingly underscored the impact of factors such as socioeconomic status, education, healthcare access, housing and environmental conditions in shaping population health outcomes. These factors, collectively called social determinants of health (SDOH), provide crucial context for understanding drivers of health outcomes. In sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), the study of SDOH is critical due to the region’s unique sociocultural and economic conditions. Understanding how SDOH interacts with health systems and capturing SDOH in data is crucial for informing modelling efforts and policies improving population health more effectively. This scoping review aims to map the types of data used to capture SDOH in research conducted in SSA, to identify research gaps and to summarise key findings. Methods This scoping review will follow the Arksey and O’Malley methodological framework, enhanced by Levac et al, providing best practices for identifying, selecting and analysing eligible studies. Key steps include (1) identifying the research question, (2) identifying relevant studies, (3) selecting eligible studies via a locally curated search, (4) extracting information, (5) collating, summarising and reporting results and (6) consultation with stakeholders. Ethics and dissemination Ethical approval is not required, as this review relies solely on published literature. Findings will be disseminated across academic channels (journals, conferences) and through targeted stakeholder engagement efforts, such as policy briefs and public health workshops, to reach policymakers, healthcare practitioners and community health organisations. This dissemination strategy aims to inform health policy and drive programme development in SSA