Mapping of Interventions of Social Protection for Tuberculosis Patients in Africa: A Scoping Review Protocol

Background Tuberculosis (TB) is a public health problem worldwide, particularly in resource-limited countries. It is considered a social disease with a medical component that persists over time due to several social determinants, most of which are closely linked to poverty and difficult socioeconomic conditions. The objective of this exploratory study is to describe the social protection interventions available for people with TB in Africa. Methods Searches will be carried out systematically in MEDLINE (PubMed), Embase (Ovid), Web of Science, Scopus and The Cochrane Library, Africa-Wide Information (EBSCOhost), Google Scholar. Articles will be considered if they describe the social protection, successes and challenges associated with the implementation and delivery of social protection interventions offered to people with TB in African countries. Data from the grey literature will also be considered. Presentation of results We will present a narrative description highlighting the successes and challenges of the social protection interventions identified, and a synthesis accompanied by maps (Africa), figures or tables to summarize the data. Conclusion This exploratory study will map the existing literature on social protection interventions for TB patients and guide future research to inform policy and practice decisions.