A Scoping Review Protocol to explore the growing burden of non-communicable diseases in South Africa and their implications for public health

<ns3:p>Background Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) constitute a major public health challenge globally. The increase in the prevalence of non-communicable diseases in South Africa continues to impact mortality and morbidity, including disability, necessitating the need to explore the growing burden of NCDs and their implications for public health. NCDs like cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes, and respiratory diseases are associated with various factors, ranging from lifestyle choices, environmental factors, and socioeconomic differences. Therefore, this review will explore and describe the prevalence of NCDs, associated risk factors, and the impact on the South African public healthcare system. Methods The five-step review described by the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) scoping review methodology: (1) determining the research question, (2) comprehensive database search, (3) inclusion criteria, (4) data extraction, and (5) analysis and presentation of the results, will be used for this study. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and the Meta-Analysis (PRISMA-P) will guide this scoping review protocol. The selection of studies for the review is anticipated to be completed within 10 weeks, from 15 October to 31 December 2025. Literature search will be conducted across multiple electronic databases: PubMed, SCOPUS, Google Scholar, and grey literature. The literature search timeline is between 2000 and 2025. The eligibility of articles will be determined using a two-stage screening process. All articles will be individually assessed for eligibility by two reviewers, while any disagreements will be resolved by consensus. The extracted data from eligible articles will be synthesized and presented using charts and narrative summaries. Conclusion This scoping review will provide an evidence map of research available on the prevalence of NCDs in South Africa, with a description of the risk factors and interventions to prevent and control NCDs in South Africa, while also informing the development of targeted public health policies and interventions for NCDs in South Africa.</ns3:p>