Challenges associated with sexually transmitted infection partner notification approaches in Africa: a scoping review protocol

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Background Despite extensive prevention efforts, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) remain a major public health concern across Africa. Partner notification (PN) is an important component of STI case management that aims to identify and manage sexual partners of people diagnosed with STIs and thereby reduce onward transmission and reinfection. Previous reviews have examined PN strategies in developing countries and sub-Saharan Africa, including acceptability, efficacy, barriers and facilitators, but these reviews have focused on specific populations, outcomes or periods and have not comprehensively mapped challenges experienced by both patients and healthcare providers across African settings. This review will therefore map the nature, range and distribution of reported challenges associated with current STI PN approaches across Africa. Objective The objective of this scoping review is to map out the challenges experienced by healthcare providers and patients with current STI PN approaches across Africa. Methods and analysis Guided by the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodology for scoping reviews and the Population-Concept-Context(PCC) framework, a systematic search will be conducted across PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science CINAHL and African Journals Online (AJOL), supplemented by Google Scholar, and specified grey literature sources. Peer-reviewed qualitative, quantitative and mixed-methods studies published in English between 2011 and 2026 focusing on STI PN challenges in African settings will be included. Two reviewers will independently screen titles, abstracts and full texts. Two reviewers will independently screen titles, abstracts and full texts and chart data using a standardised JBI-informed charting form. Disagreements will be resolved through consensus or adjudication by a third reviewer. The results will be synthesized narratively and presented using tables and thematic maps. Discussion By systematically mapping structural, systemic and interpersonal barriers such as stigma, fear of violence, resource constraints and linguistic limitations this review will highlight critical knowledge gaps in STI management in Africa.

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