SynthesisBMC medical education2026
Barriers and enablers of research participation among undergraduate health students in Sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review.
Synthesis in BMC medical education, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
1 citing paper in PubMed.
- Student Involvement In Health-Related Conferences In Nigeria: A Scoping Review.Nigerian medical journal : journal of the Nigeria Medical AssociationReview
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
6 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundResearch participation among undergraduate healthcare students (UHS) is widely recognized as key to their academic and professional development, as well as to developing future competent health workforce. However, in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), the participation of undergraduate health students in research remains limited. This review aims to systematically explore the barriers and enablers to research participation among UHS in SSA.
methodsA systematic search was conducted across MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, CINAHL, and Web of Science databases for studies published in English from 2000 to 2024. Studies were screened and assessed for quality using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. Data were synthesized through narrative synthesis.
resultsTen studies from Uganda, South Africa, Namibia, Rwanda, Sudan, and Nigeria were included, with quality ratings from moderate (60%) to very high (100%). Reported research activities covered early (conceptualisation, ethics approval), middle (data collection, analysis), and late (dissemination, publication) phases. Barriers were clustered into: (1) resource constraints; (2) time and curriculum pressures; (3) inadequate mentorship; (4) knowledge and skills gaps; (5) administrative and ethical hurdles; (6) perceptions, attitudes to research and (7) Gender, Language and Cultural barriers. Enablers included: (1) early research exposure; (2) strong mentorship; (3) access to funding/resources; (4) research skills training; (5) individual motivation; and (6) institutional/peer support. Some factors such as supervision and resources were reported as both barriers and enablers.
conclusionUHS in SSA face intertwined structural, institutional, and personal challenges to research participation. Strengthening mentorship, integrating research early into curricula, improving access to resources, and providing skills training may enhance engagement and build sustainable research capacity in the region.
trial registrationThis review was prospectively registered on PROSPERO database (PROSPERO 2024 CRD42024581644).
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Registered trials
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