What are the critical factors which support or inhibit the effective implementation of the one health approach in Africa? A systematic map protocol.

Abstract

The One Health approach recognizes that the interconnectedness of human, animal and environmental health, emphasizing collaboration sectors, disciplines and communities to address threats and foster overall well-being. Particularly relevant in Africa due to its diverse climates, weak health systems and the interactions between humans and wildlife, the approach aims to ensure sustainable and better health outcomes. Over the past decade, the One Health approach has been operationalized at different levels and regions of Africa. However, what is currently missing is an overview of factors facilitating or inhibiting operationalization as well as the existing evidence base including which areas have been researched, in which countries, for which specific factors or levels, and where major gaps in knowledge remain. To bridge this gap, a systematic mapping will be conducted by compiling existing evidence of One Health operationalization in Africa. We will conduct a comprehensive search of literature from bibliographic databases, organizational websites and Google Scholar. At the title and abstract stage, articles will be screened for eligibility against an a priori set criteria. We will screen one or more subset of relevant records and use them as an input for a natural language processing model. Once we have verified and validated model accuracy, the model will be used to classify the remaining abstracts. Full-text screening will be conducted independently by two team members. We will produce a narrative synthesis of the results describing the evidence base within the systematic map. Thematic analysis will identify the critical factors inhibiting or supporting the implementation of the One Health approach in Africa. We will use multiple visualizations to explore relationships within and between studies, highlighting areas requiring further research. Lastly, this systematic map aims to provide an evidence base to guide future interventions to further implement the One Health approach in Africa.