Interventions promoting physical activity among adolescents in Sub-Saharan Africa: a scoping review protocol v1

Abstract

Objective: To describe the existing health promotion interventions that aim to promote physical activity among adolescents in Sub-Saharan Africa and to document their design, evaluation, and the results of their evaluation. Introduction:The World Health Organization estimates that Africa will experience a 27% increase over the next 10 years, that is 28 million additional deaths due to non-communicable diseases. Physical inactivity is one of the main modifiable risk factors for many non-communicable diseases and is considered a global pandemic, including among adolescents. In the African Region, 85% of in-school adolescents aged 11–17 years are insufficiently physically active, above the worldwide average of 81%. Improving adolescents’ physical activity will bring health benefits to them today, into their adulthood and to the next generation. However, implementing and evaluating interventions to promote teenager’s physical activity in Africa is challenging. A better understanding of “which interventions work and how” to improve physical activity among adolescents in the specific African context is needed. Inclusion criteria:Health promotion interventions targeting people aged between 10 and 19 years living in Sub-Saharan Africa and aiming to promote physical activity at a populational level will be included. Methods:The proposed scoping review will be conducted in accordance with the JBI methodology for scoping reviews. All studies designs published in English, French, Spanish and Portuguese, will be considered, without date limitation. The databases to be searched include MEDLINE, CINHAL, Web of science, and African Index Medicus-WHO. Some relevant African journals not referenced in these databases will also be screened as well as other potentially relevant Internet sources.Data will be extracted using a data extraction tool developed by the reviewers based on validated frameworks and tools to describe and evaluate health interventions. Thematic and normative analysis will be performed. Results and perspectives: The results of this scoping review will identify key characteristics of the interventions promoting physical activity among adolescents in Sub-Saharan Africa, their design and evaluation, as well as the available evidence They will allow to identify knowledge gaps and determine priorities to guide further research. They will be shared to scientific community but also to public health practicians and stakeholders thank to a policy brief.