1 Introduction

Stroke is a leading cause of disability and death globally, with a disproportionate burden on low and middle-income countries (LMICs) like those in Africa [1, 2]. While the incidence and prevalence of stroke are increasing in the region, access to essential healthcare services, including post-stroke rehabilitation, remains limited [3, 4]. This disparity is compounded by a myriad of factors such as socioeconomic inequalities, geographical barriers, and a shortage of skilled healthcare professionals [5].

Effective post-stroke rehabilitation is paramount for optimizing functional recovery, minimizing disability, and enhancing the quality of life for survivors [6, 7]. Timely and comprehensive rehabilitation has been shown to reduce dependency, improve participation in social and economic activities, and prevent secondary complications [8]. Consequently, it is a cornerstone of stroke care, contributing significantly to the overall burden of disease [9]. However, the landscape of post-stroke rehabilitation in Africa is marked by substantial disparities. A paucity of research on this critical aspect of stroke care has hindered a comprehensive understanding of the challenges faced by stroke survivors in the region. Preliminary evidence suggests that factors such as geographical location, socioeconomic status, gender, age, availability of a skilled rehabilitation workforce, and access to healthcare infrastructure significantly influence the availability and accessibility of rehabilitation services [10,11,12,13]. These disparities ultimately impact the functional outcomes and long-term well-being of stroke survivors [14]. This review aims to describe disparities in access to and outcomes of post-stroke rehabilitation in Africa.

2 Methodology

This paper is a narrative review aimed at examining disparities in post-stroke rehabilitation in Africa. A search of relevant literature was conducted across PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and African Journals Online (AJOL). A combination of Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) terms and free-text keywords was used to identify relevant articles. The primary search terms included"stroke rehabilitation,""stroke recovery,""disparities in stroke care,""rehabilitation access,""health inequities,"and"Africa."Boolean operators (AND, OR) were applied to refine the search results.

Studies were selected based on the following criteria:

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Articles published in peer-reviewed journals.

  • Studies focusing on post-stroke rehabilitation access, outcomes, and disparities in African countries.

  • Publications from database inception to September 2024

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Non-English publications due to language constraints.

Two independent reviewers [NA and GO] screened titles and abstracts to determine eligibility. Full-text articles meeting the inclusion criteria were retrieved for further review. Key information, including study design, population, interventions, and findings related to disparities in rehabilitation, was extracted and synthesized narratively.

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