Drivers of Food Choice Among Adults in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Review

This project presents a systematic review examining the drivers of food choice among adults in sub-Saharan Africa. The review synthesises evidence from 42 studies across West, East, and Southern Africa, incorporating quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods research. A comprehensive search was conducted across Medline, Embase, PsycINFO, Scopus, and African Journals Online without language or date restrictions. Eligibility criteria were guided by the SPIDER framework, and findings were synthesised using the socio-ecological model to capture determinants at individual, interpersonal, organisational, community, and policy levels. Key drivers identified include sensory appeal, affordability, education and nutrition knowledge, and social influences such as family and peers. Broader environmental and cultural factors, including food environments, traditions, and policy interventions, were also found to shape dietary behaviour. This review was conducted in line with PRISMA guidelines. Although no pre-registered protocol was developed, transparent and systematic methods were applied throughout, including structured screening, data extraction, and risk of bias assessment using validated tools (CASP, AXIS, MMAT, and ROBINS-I). All materials, including the full research paper and supplementary information, are provided within this project to support transparency and reproducibility.