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Scoping review protocol aims to map structural and interpersonal barriers to STI partner notification in AfricaNew Plan to Map Barriers in African STI Partner Notification

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Key Takeaway
Note that this is a study protocol; no results are currently available to inform clinical practice.

This scoping review protocol outlines a planned study to map the range and distribution of challenges associated with current sexually transmitted infection (STI) partner notification (PN) approaches across Africa. The scope of the review includes identifying specific structural, systemic, and interpersonal barriers, such as stigma, fear of violence, resource constraints, and linguistic limitations.

Because this is a protocol, no primary data or results have been collected or analyzed yet. The study's primary goal is to map the landscape of challenges to highlight critical knowledge gaps in STI management. The authors intend to identify specific barriers that may impact the effectiveness of notification programs in the African context.

Clinical practice relevance is currently limited as the study has not been conducted. Once completed, the findings may help identify specific barriers like stigma and fear of violence to inform better STI management strategies. The authors acknowledge that as a protocol, no results are currently available to inform clinical practice.

How this fits prior evidence

This protocol addresses a gap in understanding the specific barriers to STI partner notification in Africa. It builds upon previous evidence regarding partner notification for youth in sub-Saharan Africa, which identified significant barriers related to health, infection, and social dynamics. It also relates to findings regarding structural and psychosocial factors, such as violence and depression, as barriers to condom use among female sex workers in Africa.

A new research plan, known as a scoping review protocol, is being developed to look at how people notify partners about sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in Africa. The goal is to map out the different challenges and barriers that healthcare providers and patients face in these regions.

The study aims to identify specific hurdles such as social stigma, the fear of violence, and a lack of resources. It also looks at practical issues like language barriers that might make it hard for people to share important health information safely and effectively.

It is important to note that this is currently a protocol, which means the study has not been conducted yet and no results are available. Because no data has been collected, these findings cannot change current medical practices yet. The goal is to eventually highlight where more support is needed for STI management.

What this means for you:
This is a research plan to map barriers in STI notification; no results are available yet.

Common questions

What is the goal of this study?

The goal is to map the nature and distribution of challenges associated with current STI partner notification approaches in Africa. This includes identifying structural, systemic, and interpersonal barriers like stigma, fear of violence, and resource constraints.

Are there any results from this study yet?

No, there are no results available yet. This document is a scoping review protocol, which means it is a plan for a future study. No data has been collected or analyzed at this time.

Study Details

Study typeGuideline
EvidenceLevel 5
PublishedSep 2026
View Original Abstract ↓
BackgroundDespite extensive prevention efforts, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) remain a major public health concern across Africa. Partner notification (PN) is an important component of STI case management that aims to identify and manage sexual partners of people diagnosed with STIs and thereby reduce onward transmission and reinfection. Previous reviews have examined PN strategies in developing countries and sub-Saharan Africa, including acceptability, efficacy, barriers and facilitators, but these reviews have focused on specific populations, outcomes or periods and have not comprehensively mapped challenges experienced by both patients and healthcare providers across African settings. This review will therefore map the nature, range and distribution of reported challenges associated with current STI PN approaches across Africa.ObjectiveThe objective of this scoping review is to map out the challenges experienced by healthcare providers and patients with current STI PN approaches across Africa.Methods and analysisGuided by the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodology for scoping reviews and the Population-Concept-Context(PCC) framework, a systematic search will be conducted across PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science CINAHL and African Journals Online (AJOL), supplemented by Google Scholar, and specified grey literature sources. Peer-reviewed qualitative, quantitative and mixed-methods studies published in English between 2011 and 2026 focusing on STI PN challenges in African settings will be included. Two reviewers will independently screen titles, abstracts and full texts. Two reviewers will independently screen titles, abstracts and full texts and chart data using a standardised JBI-informed charting form. Disagreements will be resolved through consensus or adjudication by a third reviewer. The results will be synthesized narratively and presented using tables and thematic maps.DiscussionBy systematically mapping structural, systemic and interpersonal barriers such as stigma, fear of violence, resource constraints and linguistic limitations this review will highlight critical knowledge gaps in STI management in Africa.
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