Protocol for a scoping review of age-related health conditions among geriatric populations in sub-Saharan Africa

Excerpt

Sub-Saharan Africa has the most rapidly growing older population compared to any other region in the world [1]. Although the chronological age of 65 years is used to define geriatric populations in high-income countries, the United Nations agreed to the use of age 60 years to refer to geriatric populations in Africa [2]. In this scoping review, “older adults” or “geriatric population” refers to those aged 60 years and above. The geriatric population in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is predicted to increase from 42.6 million in 2010 to 160 million in 2050 [1]. Healthcare services for this population are delivered predominantly through the public health system at primary care level [3]. Despite the expected increase in geriatric patients that will require primary care, most primary care providers in SSA receive little to no training on geriatrics [4]. Very few countries in SSA have specialist geriatricians and there is little inclusion of geriatrics in medical curricula [5]. As a result, there has been little awareness of age-related health conditions in older adults. Most of the health care responses to geriatric health needs are based on evidence collected from populations in the high-income countries (HIC). …