Service Delivery Models for Adults Palliative Care in Sub-Sahara Africa: A Scoping Review

This study is a scoping review that aims to map and describe service delivery models for adult palliative care in Sub-Saharan Africa. Palliative care is a multidisciplinary approach that improves quality of life for patients with life-limiting illnesses by addressing physical, psychological, social, and spiritual needs. In Sub-Saharan Africa, the burden of chronic diseases such as cancer, HIV/AIDS, and other non-communicable conditions is increasing, but access to structured palliative care services remains limited and inconsistent. There is also limited consolidated evidence on the different service delivery models, healthcare settings, workforce involvement, and implementation challenges across the region. The review will follow the Arksey and O’Malley framework, enhanced by Levac et al., and will be reported using PRISMA-ScR guidelines. It will include studies published from January 2016 to the present, focusing on adult palliative care in Sub-Saharan Africa. Eligible studies will include qualitative, quantitative, mixed-methods, and review articles published in English. Studies not describing service delivery models or focusing only on clinical outcomes will be excluded. Data will be collected from databases such as PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL, Web of Science, Embase, and Google Scholar, as well as grey literature sources. A two-stage screening process will be used, and data will be extracted using a standardized form. Analysis will be conducted using descriptive and thematic methods. The expected outcome is a clear mapping of palliative care service delivery models in Sub-Saharan Africa, including healthcare settings, multidisciplinary teams, rehabilitation roles, and barriers and facilitators. The study will identify key gaps and inform future research, policy, and practice.