Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2025 Apr;46(4):335-344.
doi: 10.15537/smj.2025.46.4.20240370.

Advancing genetic counselling in Southern Africa: Unveiling opportunities for inclusive healthcare and genomic education for Angola

Maria Chimpolo  1 , Shahida Moosa  1 , Catherine Lynn T Silao  1 , Nasser Calumbuana  1 , Elka Kay  1 , Hashim Halim-Fikri  1 , Dhavendra Kumar  1 , Bin Alwi Zilfalil  1
Affiliations

Advancing genetic counselling in Southern Africa: Unveiling opportunities for inclusive healthcare and genomic education for Angola

Maria Chimpolo et al. Saudi Med J. 2025 Apr.

Abstract

Objectives: To critically evaluate the current status quo of genetic counseling in Southern Africa by uncovering grey areas in their integration within national healthcare systems. It pinpoints the need for improved genetic education and healthcare inclusivity to advance genomic medicine and precision healthcare for underserved populations by analyzing policy frameworks, infrastructure, education, and initiatives.

Methods: A systematic review following PRISMA guidelines examined studies on genetic testing in Southern Africa from 2008 to 2023. Searches in databases such as PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science employed keywords and MeSH terms. A 2-tiered screening process selected studies, and extracted data were organized into a comprehensive overview. The Cochrane Collaboration tool assessed bias in individual studies.

Results: Of 1,876 initial studies, 42 met inclusion criteria. Participants ranged from genetic counselors and patients to general practitioners. Risk of bias assessment revealed that 21.4% of studies had a high risk of bias, often due to inadequate blinding and incomplete data, while 29% showed a low risk of bias. Key findings identified barriers such as limited resources, education gaps among healthcare professionals, and cultural challenges.

Conclusion: Genetic counseling shows potential to advance patient knowledge and informed decision-making in Southern Africa. Addressing challenges through targeted research, education, and policy reforms is essential for integrating genetic healthcare into regional systems. Despite limitations, this review underscores genetic counseling's fundamental role in improving healthcare strategies and patient outcomes across Angola and other Southern African countries.PROSPERO Reg. No.: CRD42024548557.

Keywords: Angola; Genetic counseling; Southern Africa; genetic disease management; genomic education; healthcare barriers.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
- PRISMA 2020 flow diagram illustrating the systematic review process, including identifying records through electronic database searches, the screening process for eligibility, and the final inclusion of studies.
Figure 2
Figure 2
- Frequency of study design among the selected studies.
Figure 3
Figure 3
- Distribution of focus areas on genetic counseling among the selected published studies
Figure 4
Figure 4
- Distribution of outcomes measured across the selected published studies.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Similar articles

See all similar articles

References

    1. Quinonez SC, O’Connor BC, Jacobs MF, Tekleab AM, Marye A, Bekele D, et al. . The introduction of genetic counseling in Ethiopia: Results of a training workshop and lessons learned. PLoS One 2021;16: e0255278. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Harding B, Webber C, Rühland L, Dalgarno N, Armour C, Birtwhistle R, et al. . Bridging the gap in genetics: a progressive model for primary to specialist care. BMC Med Educ 2019; 19: 195. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Schmitt A. Município de Angola: Censo 2014 e estimativa de 2018. Rev Conexão Emancipacionista. Accessed 2024 September 9]. Available from: http://aurelioschmitt.blogspot.com/2018/02/municipios-de-angola-censo-20...
    1. Greenberg J, Kromberg J, Loggenberg K, Wessels TM. Genetic Counselling in South Africa. In: Kumar D, editor. Genomics and Health in the Developing World. Oxford University Press; 2014. (2012; online edn, Oxford Academic, 1 Feb. 2014).
    1. Gurdasani D, Carstensen T, Tekola-Ayele F, Pagani L, Tachmazidou I, Hatzikotoulas K, et al. . The African Genome Variation Project shapes medical genetics in Africa. Nature 2015: 327-332. - PMC - PubMed

Publication types