ArticleResearch square2026
Ethical Issues in Caring for Older Persons in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Scoping Review.
Article in Research square, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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
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Authors and funding
15 authors.
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Abstract
Background: Rapid population ageing in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is unfolding within fragile health systems, weak social protection, and limited geriatric and palliative services, creating ethical challenges in older adult care. This study critically reviews current literature and policy reports, synthesizes key themes, and proposes evidence-based recommendations for policy, practice, and research. Methods: A comprehensive literature search examined ethical issues in caring for older adults in SSA across healthcare and social care settings. We searched biomedical, ethics, social science, and gray literature sources using population, ethics, care, and geographic terms. English-language studies from 2000 to 2025 addressing ethical dimensions of older adult care were included. Results: We identified multiple ethical challenges that affect older adult care in SSA, including justice, equity, autonomy, dignity, vulnerability, abuse, and ageism. Healthcare-related concerns involve unmet needs, resource allocation dilemmas, limited palliative and end-of-life care, and age-biased clinical decisions. Socially, weakening family support systems create moral tensions for caregivers. Policy analyses emphasise rights-based, culturally sensitive, and equitable approaches, highlighting the need for integrated ethical, social, and systemic care strategies. Conclusions: Addressing ethical issues in older care in SSA requires legally enshrined protections, health-system investments, public campaigns to counter ageism, supportive decision-making frameworks that respect cultural contexts and individual rights and strengthened research and surveillance. A right-based, culturally sensitive approach focused on the voices of older persons is essential.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.