Community engagement for pandemic preparedness and response in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Scoping Review

BACKGROUND: Community participation in epidemic and pandemic preparedness and response activities is key for the successful implementation of infection control activities. However, the strategies and approaches used by health authorities and service providers to engage communities is not well documented This scoping review aimed to summarize approaches, and strategies for community engagement for epidemic and pandemic preparedness and response in Sub-Saharan Africa. METHODS: The PRISMA Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) and the methodological framework for scoping review from Arksey and O'Malley (2005) was used to guide the review. Peer -reviewed, primary research was retrieved from databases including EMBASE, EBSCO-host, PubMed, Global Health, CINAHL, Google Scholar and Web of science. Grey literature was retrieved from websites of international organisations, and of Ministries of Health in African countries. A total of 124 articles were included in the review, and data was extracted and analyzed using a thematic analysis approach. RESULTS: Community engagement strategies varied widely across different contexts. Four broad categories of approaches were identified: (1) community mobilization, (2) community-based surveillance, (3) social and behavior change communication, and (4) community participation in decision-making. The review also identified key enablers and barriers to community engagement, including factors such as trust, cultural norms, and resource availability. CONCLUSIONS: Effective community engagement for epidemic and pandemic preparedness and response requires a tailored approach that is responsive to the local context, and that addresses the specific needs and concerns of different communities. The review provides a comprehensive overview of the current state of knowledge on strategies for community engagement in sub-Saharan Africa and highlights the need for further research and evaluation of community engagement approaches in this context.