Assessing the Impact of Atopic Dermatitis on the Quality of Life of Paediatric Patients in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Scoping Review protocol

Introduction: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a prevalent chronic skin condition in children, significantly affecting their quality of life (QoL) and that of their families. In Sub-Saharan Africa, where early diagnosis, healthcare access and affordable treatments are often limited, the burden of AD may be amplified by socioeconomic and environmental factors. Despite its impact, evidence on QoL in paediatric AD patients in this region remains underexplored. This scoping review aims to synthesize existing data on the QoL of children with AD in Sub-Saharan Africa, identifying key findings and gaps to guide future research and interventions. Methods: Following the JBI framework, studies spanning from database inception up till March 2025 focusing on children (0–18 years) with AD in Sub-Saharan Africa that used validated QoL tools will be included after a systematic search of MEDLINE, Embase, APA PsycINFO, ProQuest, Google Scholar, African journals Online (AJOL), Health sciences and Diseases journal and reference lists. Data extracted will include study design, sociodemographic characteristics, AD severity, QoL outcomes, and methodological details. Findings will be synthesized descriptively due to heterogeneity in study designs.