Neuropsychology in Africa: A survey of academic, research, and clinical resources

Abstract

Objective The International Neuropsychological Society (INS) Justice and Equity Subcommittee initiated a survey of neuropsychological academic training programs, clinical practices, and research across Africa, examining respondents’ interest in collaboration and their views on resources needed to advance the field. Method This quantitative, cross-sectional study employed chain-referral sampling at higher education institutions identified via uniRank. Of the 1,244 institutions screened, 241 offered psychology or psychiatry coursework. A multilingual cover letter and survey link (English, Swahili, Arabic, French, Portuguese, Spanish) were distributed, yielding 42 respondents from 17 of 54 countries (≈31.5% country response rate). Results Most respondents were clinical psychologists or neuropsychologists and reported 1–5 neuropsychologists per country. Neuropsychologists’ roles included cognitive assessment, research, teaching, and assisting in neurological diagnoses, primarily using tests developed outside Africa. Current research centered on the neuropsychological effects of psychiatric disorders, infectious diseases (e.g., HIV, cerebral malaria), and neurodevelopmental disorders, with future focus areas identified as traumatic brain injury and epilepsy. Educational and training opportunities remain limited. Key barriers to program development included insufficient numbers of trained neuropsychologists, clinical training sites, and employment prospects. Despite this, there is strong interest in collaboration to accelerate the development of neuropsychology and neurosciences, given the heavy burden of neurological disease. Conclusion To foster growth, efforts must target the creation of academic and clinical training pathways and the adaptation, standardization, and norming of assessment tools tailored to African populations. There exist ample impactful avenues for individual and organizational collaboration or support to further the global development of neuropsychology.