A Scoping Review of African Health Histories from the Pre-Colonial to SDG Eras: Insights for Future Health Systems

Background: This scoping review aims to systematically examine the extent of the literature on African health histories throughout the pre-colonial, colonial, post-independence, primary health care (PHC), Millennium Development Goals (MDG), and Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) periods. Methods: This scoping review followed the Arksey and O'Malley framework, enhanced by Levac's updates and adaptations from the Joanna Briggs Institute's methodology. Data from eligible records were extracted based on inclusion criteria and summarized narratively. Results: We included 83 records, of which the majority (n = 70) were narrative reviews. Eighteen of these provide evidence from Africa as a whole, while country-specific evidence was obtained from 21 countries. South Africa had the most records (n = 17), followed by Ghana (n = 6) and Nigeria (n = 6). The majority of evidence came from the colonial period (n = 13), followed by the PHC and MDG periods (n = 12 each). Health systems in the pre-colonial era were rooted in indigenous practices and community-driven systems; the colonial period introduced Western-style health care systems; the post-independence period focused on health promotion initiatives and infectious disease eradication; the PHC era focused on community-centered health care and equitable service provision; the MDG era expanded on targeted interventions for infectious diseases, and the SDG era aims to build resilient and inclusive health care systems towards universal health coverage. Conclusion: This review revealed diverse influences on health systems from the pre-colonial to SDG eras. However, these records are not exhaustive and require country-specific records, archived documents, and a centralized repository. Addressing these gaps will provide a comprehensive understanding of African health histories and aid in future health interventions.