The burden of otitis media-dependent hearing loss in Subsaharan Africa: a protocol for a scoping review

Abstract Otitis media (OM) remains a major contributor to preventable childhood hearing loss globally, with disproportionate burden in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Variability in diagnostic definitions, audiometric thresholds, and sampling methods limits reliable regional burden estimation and policy translation. To systematically map the available evidence on OM-associated hearing loss in SSA, describe methodological heterogeneity, and identify gaps to inform future epidemiological and health-systems research. This scoping review will follow the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodology and be reported according to PRISMA-ScR guidelines. MEDLINE, Embase, Global Health, Global Index Medicus, Scopus, and Web of Science will be searched from 1 January 1995 onward. Eligible studies include observational and experimental studies conducted in SSA reporting acute otitis media (AOM), otitis media with effusion (OME), or chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM) with quantitative hearing loss outcomes in individuals under 18 years. Two reviewers will independently screen records, extract data, and assess methodological quality using the JBI prevalence checklist. Findings will be synthesized descriptively using unweighted medians, ranges, and structured narrative synthesis. Ethical approval is not required as this study uses publicly available data. Findings will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publication, conference presentation, and stakeholder engagement in SSA.