Aderinto Nicholas, Olatunji Gbolahan, Kokori Emmanuel, Agbo Chinonyelum Emmanuel, Babalola Adetola Emmanuel, Yusuf Ismaila Ajayi, Tolulope Edun Mariam, Oyelude Anuoluwa Oyeboyin, Adejumo Faith Adedayo, Abraham Israel Charles
Department of Medicine and Surgery, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Nigeria.
Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria.
J Health Popul Nutr. 2025 Jul 10;44(1):245. doi: 10.1186/s41043-025-01004-z.
Stroke is a leading cause of disability worldwide, with low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), particularly in Africa, experiencing an increasing burden due to rising incidences driven by urbanization, lifestyle changes, and non-communicable diseases. This scoping review maps stroke rehabilitation interventions in Africa, identifying barriers to implementation and adherence, and highlighting research gaps to inform future policy and clinical practices. A literature search was conducted across PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Embase, and African Journals Online (AJOL), supplemented by grey literature from WHO reports and government publications. Inclusion criteria focused on studies of stroke rehabilitation interventions in African countries, targeting adults diagnosed with stroke, and included randomized controlled trials, cohort studies, qualitative studies, and systematic reviews. Findings indicate that stroke rehabilitation interventions in Africa, including physical therapy, task-specific training, psychoeducational programs, tele-rehabilitation, mobile phone-supported interventions, and programs targeting activities of daily living (ADLs), are implemented in some settings to enhance functional independence, motor, cognitive, and speech functions, and psychological well-being. However, adherence to these protocols is often limited by significant barriers, including financial constraints, geographical and transportation challenges, a shortage of skilled rehabilitation professionals, cultural and language barriers, and patient-related factors such as cognitive impairments and lack of social support. The review also reveals variability in the availability of standardized rehabilitation protocols across African settings, with some regions lacking consistent implementation. Research gaps include insufficient epidemiological data, limited evaluation of cost-effective and culturally appropriate rehabilitation models, and underexplored caregiver burden. This review advocates further studies on technology integration, community-based rehabilitation, and culturally tailored interventions to improve adherence and accessibility. It also emphasizes addressing systemic and infrastructural barriers to ensure equitable access to rehabilitation services for stroke survivors across Africa. Future research should focus on optimizing rehabilitation strategies, reducing long-term disability, and improving quality of life for stroke survivors in Africa.
中风是全球致残的主要原因,低收入和中等收入国家(LMICs),尤其是非洲国家,由于城市化、生活方式改变和非传染性疾病导致发病率上升,负担日益加重。本综述旨在梳理非洲的中风康复干预措施,确定实施和依从的障碍,并突出研究差距,以为未来政策和临床实践提供参考。我们在PubMed、Scopus、科学网、Embase和非洲在线期刊(AJOL)上进行了文献检索,并辅以世界卫生组织报告和政府出版物中的灰色文献。纳入标准侧重于非洲国家中风康复干预措施的研究,针对被诊断为中风的成年人,包括随机对照试验、队列研究、定性研究和系统评价。研究结果表明,非洲的中风康复干预措施包括物理治疗、特定任务训练、心理教育项目、远程康复、手机支持的干预措施以及针对日常生活活动(ADL)的项目,在某些环境中得以实施,以增强功能独立性、运动、认知和言语功能以及心理健康。然而,对这些方案的依从性往往受到重大障碍的限制,包括经济限制、地理和交通挑战、缺乏熟练的康复专业人员、文化和语言障碍以及患者相关因素,如认知障碍和缺乏社会支持。该综述还揭示了非洲各地标准化康复方案可用性的差异,一些地区缺乏一致的实施。研究差距包括流行病学数据不足、对具有成本效益和文化适宜性的康复模式评估有限以及对照顾者负担探索不足。本综述主张进一步研究技术整合、基于社区的康复以及文化定制干预措施,以提高依从性和可及性。它还强调解决系统性和基础设施障碍,以确保非洲中风幸存者公平获得康复服务。未来的研究应侧重于优化康复策略、减少长期残疾以及改善非洲中风幸存者的生活质量。