Severe malaria-related disability in African children: a scoping review

Abstract

Purpose

Disability is a consequence of severe malaria for a significant proportion of African children. This scoping review aims to describe the impact of severe malaria on African children according to current literature using an international biopsychical classification and framework of disability and functioning.

Materials and methods

MEDLINE, EMBASE, Global Health, and CINHAL databases were searched for original research conducted on African children aged 0–18 using terms related to severe malaria and components of disability. Independent and dependent variables were extracted and classified using the World Health Organization’s International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health-Children and Youth version (ICF-CY) using standardized coding methods.

Results

Seventy-two percent of the measured variables in the 34 included studies were coded as “body functions,” (i.e., impairments), such as mental, neuromusculoskeletal, movement, and sensory functions, and 23.3% of variables were coded as “activities and participation” (i.e., activity limitations/participation restrictions), such as difficulties with general tasks and demands, communication, mobility, interpersonal interactions, and relationships. “Environment” variables such as family support, health access, education, or societal attitudes were not found in the included studies.

Conclusions

Existing peer-reviewed quantitative research of severe malaria-related disability is focused on neurological sequelae, with less research about activity limitations and participation restrictions.

Implications for rehabilitation

• Promoting the use of a comprehensive biopsychosocial disability framework and classification system for severe malaria will provide a framework that other researchers, policymakers, and rehabilitation professionals can consider when looking at the best ways to support outcomes for children with severe malaria.

• Using a framework of the ICF-CY, we have highlighted the need for better research into child functioning outcomes in severe malaria research, especially within the domain of child participation.

• Policymakers should be encouraged to support better holistic evaluation, support, and rehabilitation of children who have had severe malaria.

Keywords:

• Severe malaria
• children
• disability
• Africa
• scoping review

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

All data generated or analyzed during this study included in this published article and its supplementary information file.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program, which covered personal and material costs as part of a larger research project. However, the organization had no role in designing or conducting the study, including data collection, management, analysis, interpretation of the findings, and manuscript writing, review, and approval.