Use of digital health in task-sharing for prevention and management of non-communicable diseases in Africa: A scoping review

Task-sharing with non-physician health workers (NPHWs), supported by digital health, has emerged as a critical strategy to address workforce shortage and improve the delivery of health services. The use of digital health shows promise in supporting task-sharing for the prevention and management of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) elsewhere; however, the evidence from Africa remains limited. This study aims to review the use of digital health in task-sharing for the prevention and management of NCDs in Africa. The review described the types of digital health technologies used, their functions, effectiveness, and what affects optimal use. The Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) protocol for scoping reviews was employed, and searches were conducted across three databases-PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar-for studies published up to August 2025. The search identified 4,857 citations, of which 71 full texts were screened. Fifteen studies from eight African countries were included in the review, with the largest proportion (26.7%; 4/15) originating from South Africa. mHealth was the most frequently used digital health technology in 46.7% (7/15) of studies, with community health workers as the primary users. The review found that NPHWs utilized digital health technologies for prevention, screening, treatment delivery, and supervision. Digital health, particularly mHealth, supports NPHWs in task-sharing for NCD prevention and management in Africa, despite the limited types of technologies and functions. The use of digital health was limited by low digital literacy, poor internet connectivity, and inadequate electricity supply. Effective implementation requires governance, sustainable funding, infrastructure, workforce development, and robust data systems tailored to the specific contexts of African countries. PROTOCOL REGISTRATION NUMBER: https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/Q2XF9.