Longitudinal Studies of Aging in Sub-Saharan Africa: Review, Limitations, and Recommendations in Preparation of Projected Aging Population

Olayinka Akinrolie¹, Anthony O Iwuagwu^{2

3}, Michael E Kalu⁴, Daniel Rayner⁵, Oluwagbemiga Oyinlola^{6

7}, Chigozie D Ezulike^{3

8}, Augustine C Okoh⁵, Adebayo O Makanju⁹, Ebere P Ugwuodo¹⁰, Immaculata A Ugwuja¹¹, Makanjuola Osuolale John¹², Deborah Adeleke¹⁰, Chukwuenyegom J Egbumike¹³, Ebuka Miracle Anieto¹⁰, Ijeoma B Anieto¹¹, Chiedozie James Alumona^{14

15}, Ogochukwu Kelechi Onyeso¹⁵, Blessing Ojembe¹⁶, Chidinma A Omeje¹⁷, Ernest C Nwachukwu¹⁸, Ezinne C Ekediegwu¹⁹, Kelechi M Onyeso²⁰, Ademuyiwa Adeboye²¹, Michael Ibekaku⁴, Omobolade Akinrolie²², Chukwuebuka P Onyekere^{11

23}

Affiliations

¹ Applied Health Sciences, Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
² School of Social Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
³ Department of Social Work, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria.
⁴ School of Kinesiology and Health Science, Faculty of Health, York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
⁵ Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
⁶ School of Social Work, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
⁷ Medical Social Services Department, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Oyo state, Nigeria.
⁸ Department of Social and Behavioural Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong.
⁹ Interdisciplinary Social Research Program (Aging and Health), Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada.
¹⁰ School of Health and Life Sciences, Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow, UK.
¹¹ Department of Gerontology, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK.
¹² Faculty of Nursing Sciences, University of Medical Sciences, Ondo, Ondo State, Nigeria.
¹³ Evangel University, Akaeze, Akaeze, Ebonyi State, Nigeria.
¹⁴ Department of Physiotherapy, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Chrisland University, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria.
¹⁵ Faculty of Health Science, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada.
¹⁶ Faculty of Social Work, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
¹⁷ Physiotherapy Unit, Asaba Specialist Hospital, Asaba, Delta State, Nigeria.
¹⁸ School of Physiotherapy, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
¹⁹ Department of Medical Rehabilitation (Physiotherapy), Faculty of Health Sciences and Technology, Nnamdi Azikwe University, Nnewi Campus, Anambra, Nigeria.
²⁰ Department of Estate Management, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria.
²¹ Department of Medical Rehabilitation, College of Health Sciences, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Osun State, Nigeria.
²² Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Health Science Centre, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
²³ Department of Medical Rehabilitation, Faculty of Health Sciences and Technology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria.

PMID: 38628825
PMCID: PMC11020233
DOI: 10.1093/geroni/igae002

Review

Longitudinal Studies of Aging in Sub-Saharan Africa: Review, Limitations, and Recommendations in Preparation of Projected Aging Population

Olayinka Akinrolie et al. Innov Aging. 2024.

. 2024 Jan 23;8(4):igae002.

doi: 10.1093/geroni/igae002. eCollection 2024.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Applied Health Sciences, Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
² School of Social Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
³ Department of Social Work, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria.
⁴ School of Kinesiology and Health Science, Faculty of Health, York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
⁵ Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
⁶ School of Social Work, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
⁷ Medical Social Services Department, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Oyo state, Nigeria.
⁸ Department of Social and Behavioural Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong.
⁹ Interdisciplinary Social Research Program (Aging and Health), Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada.
¹⁰ School of Health and Life Sciences, Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow, UK.
¹¹ Department of Gerontology, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK.
¹² Faculty of Nursing Sciences, University of Medical Sciences, Ondo, Ondo State, Nigeria.
¹³ Evangel University, Akaeze, Akaeze, Ebonyi State, Nigeria.
¹⁴ Department of Physiotherapy, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Chrisland University, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria.
¹⁵ Faculty of Health Science, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada.
¹⁶ Faculty of Social Work, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
¹⁷ Physiotherapy Unit, Asaba Specialist Hospital, Asaba, Delta State, Nigeria.
¹⁸ School of Physiotherapy, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
¹⁹ Department of Medical Rehabilitation (Physiotherapy), Faculty of Health Sciences and Technology, Nnamdi Azikwe University, Nnewi Campus, Anambra, Nigeria.
²⁰ Department of Estate Management, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria.
²¹ Department of Medical Rehabilitation, College of Health Sciences, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Osun State, Nigeria.
²² Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Health Science Centre, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
²³ Department of Medical Rehabilitation, Faculty of Health Sciences and Technology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria.

PMID: 38628825
PMCID: PMC11020233
DOI: 10.1093/geroni/igae002

Abstract

Background and objectives: The United Nations has projected a 218% increase in older people in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) between 2019 and 2050, underscoring the need to explore changes that would occur over this time. Longitudinal studies are ideal for studying and proffering solutions to these changes. This review aims to understand the breadth and use of longitudinal studies on aging in the SSA regions, proffering recommendations in preparation for the projected aging population.

Research design and methods: This paper is the third of a four-part series paper of a previous systematic mapping review of aging studies in SSA. We updated the search (between 2021 and 2023) and screened the titles/abstracts and full-text articles by a pair of independent reviewers. Data were extracted using a standardized data-charting form, identifying longitudinal studies in SSA.

Results: We identified 193 studies leveraging 24 longitudinal study data sets conducted at 28 unique sites. The World Health Organization's Study on Global AGEing and Adult Health (WHO-SAGE) (n = 59, 30.5%) and Health and Aging in Africa: A Longitudinal Study of an INDEPTH Community in South Africa (HAALSI) (n = 51, 26.4%) were the most used longitudinal data sets. Four studies used more than one longitudinal study data set. Eighteen of the longitudinal study data sets were used only in 1-4 studies. Most (n = 150, 77.7%) of the studies used a cross-sectional analytical approach.

Discussion and implications: Longitudinal studies on aging are sparingly being utilized in SSA. Most analyses conducted across the longitudinal data set were cross-sectional, which hindered the understanding of aging changes that occurred over time that could better inform aging policy and interventions. We call for funding bodies, such as WHO-SAGE, to develop funding competitions that focus on conducting longitudinal analyses, such as structural equation modeling, highlighting changes occurring among the aging population in SSA.

Keywords: HAALSI; Systematic mapping review; WHO-SAGE.

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Conflict of interest statement

None.

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References

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Longitudinal Studies of Aging in Sub-Saharan Africa: Review, Limitations, and Recommendations in Preparation of Projected Aging Population

Affiliations

Longitudinal Studies of Aging in Sub-Saharan Africa: Review, Limitations, and Recommendations in Preparation of Projected Aging Population

Authors

Affiliations

Abstract

Conflict of interest statement

Figures

References

Publication types

LinkOut - more resources

Full Text Sources

Research Materials

Miscellaneous