Oral Health Research in the WHO African Region between 2011 and 2022: A Scoping Review

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Health Services Research
• Global Health

Background:

• The status of oral health research in the World Health Organization (WHO) African region is not well-defined.
• Understanding research output is crucial for advancing oral health agendas and translating findings into practice.
• A clear research landscape is needed to support regional health strategies in Africa.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a scoping review of oral health research in the WHO African region.
• To identify the scope and output of oral health research to inform a future research agenda.
• To provide data for improving oral health outcomes in the region.

Main Methods:

• Systematic search across multiple databases including PubMed, Scopus, and African regional databases.
• Inclusion of primary and secondary studies published in English, French, or Portuguese from 2011-2022.
• Focus on studies with individuals, groups, or populations as units of analysis, relevant to the WHO African region.

Main Results:

• A significant number of studies (1,379 out of 24,014 records) were eligible for review.
• Identified a preference for research designs less suited for evidence-based guidelines and policy.
• Noted a limited range of research topics and disparities in research capacity across the region.
• Observed that research from the region is often published in journals with lower visibility.

Conclusions:

• Oral health research in the WHO African region is characterized by suboptimal research designs and limited topic diversity.
• There are significant regional disparities in research capacity and publication reach.
• Enhanced intra- and inter-country collaborations among researchers are recommended to improve oral health research and outcomes.