ArticleHuman resources for health2017
Occupational therapy and physiotherapy education and workforce in Anglophone sub-Saharan Africa countries.
Article in Human resources for health, 2017. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 23 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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Who cites it
23 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Tertiary prevention interventions for patients with stroke in African countries: a systematic review.BMJ open · 2025Pooled it
- Neurodevelopmental screening for neonates less than 44 weeks gestation in low-income and middle-income countries: a systematic review.BMJ global health · 2025Pooled it
- Low-cost Rehabilitation Solutions: Lessons From LMIC Settings.Current neurology and neuroscience reports · 2026Review
- Strengthening rehabilitation to reduce burn contractures and disability in sub Saharan Africa.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciences · 2026Article
- Variation in global trauma care: a survey of 187 hospitals across 51 countries.BMJ global health · 2025Article
- Managing low-back pain in rural Uganda: a qualitative study exploring the perspectives and practices of frontline health workers regarding LBP management in primary care.BMC musculoskeletal disorders · 2025Article
- A qualitative study on rehabilitation services at primary health care: insights from primary health care stakeholders in low-resource contexts.BMC health services research · 2024Article
- Developing a Global Strategy for strengthening the occupational therapy workforce: a two-phased mixed-methods consultation of country representatives shows the need for clarifying task-sharing strategies.Human resources for health · 2024Article
- Water fetching and musculoskeletal health across the life-course in Sub-Saharan Africa: A scoping review.PLOS global public health · 2024Article
- Delivery of Allied Health Therapies to People with Parkinson's Disease in Africa.Journal of Parkinson's disease · 2024Review
- Genetic Neuromuscular Disorders and Health Services Access, Utilization, and Needs in Zambia.Pediatric neurology · 2023Article
- The Global Status of Occupational Therapy Workforce Research Worldwide: A Scoping Review.The American journal of occupational therapy : official publication of the American Occupational Therapy Association · 2023Article
- Mapping Effectiveness Studies of Occupational Therapy in Africa: A Scoping Review.Occupational therapy international · 2023Article
- Ways to improve surgical outcomes in low- and middle-income countries.Bulletin of the World Health Organization · 2022Article
- Access to health and rehabilitation services for persons with disabilities in Sierra Leone - focus group discussions with stakeholders.BMC health services research · 2022Article
- Limitations and Recommendations for Advancing the Occupational Therapy Workforce Research Worldwide: Scoping Review and Content Analysis of the Literature.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2022Article
- Type of Findings Generated by the Occupational Therapy Workforce Research Worldwide: Scoping Review and Content Analysis.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2022Article
- A Focus Group Study to Understand the Perspectives of Physiotherapists on Barriers and Facilitators to Advancing Rehabilitation in Low-Resource and Conflict Settings.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2021Article
- Predictors of return to work among stroke survivors in south-west Nigeria.Hong Kong journal of occupational therapy : HKJOT · 2021Article
- The characteristics of stroke and its rehabilitation in Northern Tanzania.Global health action · 2021Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
2 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundSub-Saharan Africa (SSA) countries are faced with the challenge of educating a critical mass of occupational therapists (OTs) and physiotherapists (PTs) to meet the growing demand for health and rehabilitation services. The World Federation of Occupational Therapy (WFOT) and World Confederation of Physical Therapy (WCPT) have argued for the need of graduate-level training for OTs and PTs for decades. However, very few studies have been conducted to determine the availability of OT and PT training programs and practitioners in SSA countries.
methodsInitial data were collected and compiled from an extensive literature search conducted using MEDLINE and PubMed to examine the availability of OT and PT education and training programs in SSA countries. Additional data were collected, compiled, and collated from academic institutions, ministries of health, health professions associations, and licensing authorities in SSA countries. Secondary data were also collected from the websites of organizations such as the World Bank, World Health Organization (WHO), WFOT, and WCPT.
resultsThis investigation revealed that there are limited number of OT and PT training programs and that these training programs in Anglophone SSA countries are offered at or below the bachelor's level. More than half of the countries do not have OT or PT training programs. The number of qualified OTs and PTs appears to be insufficient to meet the demand for rehabilitation services. Nigeria and South Africa are the only countries offering post-entry-level masters and doctoral-level training programs in physiotherapy and occupational therapy.
conclusionsHigher learning institutions in SSA countries need to collaborate and partner with other regional and foreign universities to elevate the educational training and increase the supply of PTs and OTs in the region.
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