Determinants of Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health in Sub-Saharan Africa: Protocol for an Umbrella Review

Abstract

Background: Adolescents are a large proportion of the population in sub-Saharan Africa and face multiple risks to their health and well-being. Prior systematic reviews have focused on specific adolescent sexual and reproductive health outcomes such as teen pregnancies, HIV/AIDS, and sexually transmitted diseases. A comprehensive synthesis of the influential factors that shape different aspects of adolescent sexual and reproductive health can inform health policy and program development for this important segment of the population. Objective: This paper presents the protocol for an umbrella review that aims to synthesize the existing knowledge in the literature on the associations among individual, family, and societal factors and sexual and reproductive health outcomes among adolescents in sub-Saharan Africa. Methods: We will include systematic reviews that identify factors associated with sexual and reproductive health outcomes among adolescents, 10-19 years of age, in sub-Saharan Africa. Reviews can include quantitative and qualitative primary studies with or without meta-analysis. Academic and gray literature searches will identify reviews from PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, ProQuest, Google, and Google Scholar. Two reviewers (MZG and KO) will independently carry out title, abstract, and full text screening, assess methodological quality, and extract data. We will assess the methodological quality of the included studies using the Joanna Briggs Institute standard forms. The review will present findings in narrative form and in tables and will follow PRISMA (the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) reporting guidelines. Results: A preliminary search in April 2023 found 1351 articles to be screened. Conclusions: This umbrella review will permit a comprehensive and high-level understanding of the various factors that influence adolescent sexual and reproductive health in sub-Saharan Africa. Trial Registration: PROSPERO International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews CRD42023394512; https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=394512