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.

BACKGROUND:Improvement in medico-social services has increased life expectancy and population ageing in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). It was estimated that about 163 million people aged 65 and older will be resident in SSA by 2050. There is inadequate ageing research capacity in SSA which necessitates this study to (a) identify a decade-long ageing research opportunities, challenges, and solutions, and (b) prioritize critical ageing research areas and methodologies relevant to the SSA.METHODS:We designed an e-Delphi protocol following the Reporting Guideline for Priority Setting of Health Research with Stakeholder. The stakeholders will be researchers, practitioners, older adults, and caregivers purposively selected through snowballing quota sampling to complete three rounds of e-Delphi surveys. Round 1 will involve open-ended questions derived from the study objectives. Responses from round 1 will be prepared as a checklist for stakeholders to rate during rounds 2 & 3, using a 9-point scale: low priority (1-3), moderate priority (4-6), and high priority (7-9). The criterion for reaching a consensus will be ≥ 70% of stakeholders rating an item "high priority" and ≤ 15% as "low priority." Quantitative data will be analysed using descriptive statistics, Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed-rank test will be used to assess the stability of stakeholders' responses, and qualitative comments will be analysed using content analysis.DISCUSSION AND IMPLICATIONS:Setting aging research/practice priorities will help maximize the benefits of research investment and provide valuable direction for allocating public and private research funds to areas of strategic importance.

Study Aim To summarize the current state and quality of qualitative research conducted by physiotherapists in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA).Methods We systematically searched multiple databases from 2000 to December 2020 and included peer-reviewed qualitative studies conducted by physiotherapists in SSA countries. Two reviewers independently screened citations, extracted data, and assessed the quality of the included studies using the 45-items checklist by Lundgren, and colleagues. Conventional content analysis was employed to create physiotherapy subject areas from the included studies.Results We included 114 studies, a majority of 84 (74%) conducted in South Africa. Included studies were categorized into five subject areas: sports (n = 2), disability (n = 16), professional practice (n = 24), education and training (n = 36), and care provision (n = 36). We rated 74 (65%), 29 (25%), and 11 (10%) of the included research as low reporting quality, moderate- and high reporting quality, respectively. There was a significant lack of reporting on researchers’ team characteristics, reflexivity, and member checking.Conclusion We conclude that the reporting of published qualitative studies in SSA shows variable quality, albeit mostly low, focused mainly on care provision, education, and training. Physiotherapy-researchers are encouraged to report reflexive practice and member checking when conducting qualitative research.

Background The quality assessment provides information on the overall strength of evidence and methodological quality of a research design, highlighting the level of confidence the reader should place on the findings for decision making. This paper aimed to assess the quality (methodology and quality of reporting) of ageing studies in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Method This paper is the second of a Four-Part Series paper of a previous systematic mapping review of peer-reviewed literature on ageing studies conducted in SSA. We updated the literature search to include additional 32 articles, a total of 544 articles included in this paper. Downs & Black checklist, Case Report guidelines checklist, the 45-items Lundgren et al. checklist, and the Mixed Method Appraisal Tool were used to assess the methodological quality of quantitative, case reports, qualitative, and mixed-method studies. Quality assessment was piloted and conducted in pairs for each study type. Depending on the checklist, each study was classified as excellent, good, fair, or poor. Result Of the 544 articles, we performed the quality assessment of a total of 451 quantitative studies [Randomized control trials (RCTs) and pre-post (n=15), longitudinal (n=122), case-control (n=15) and cross-sectional (n=300); 4 case reports, 74 qualitative and 15 mixed-method studies. Only 20.4% (n=111) articles were of high quality [one RCT, 27 longitudinal, 4 case-control, 48 cross-sectional studies, 19 qualitative, and 12 mixed-method studies]. The remaining 433 were rated as moderate quality (n=292, 53.7%), fair quality (n = 96, 17.7%) and poor quality (n = 45, 8.2%). Most (80%) quantitative articles’ sample size is small, resulting in insufficient power to detect a clinically or significant important effect. Three-quarter (75%) of the qualitative studies did not report their research team characteristics and a reflexivity component of the 45-items Lundgren et al. checklist. Mixed-method studies with low quality did not report the qualitative studies properly. Conclusion We conclude that the methodological and quality reporting of published studies on ageing in SSA show variable quality, albeit primarily moderate quality, against high quality. Studies with a large sample size are recommended, and qualitative researchers should provide a section on research team members’ characteristics and reflexivity in their paper or as an appendix.

BACKGROUND:In 2040, the older population's growth rate in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) will be faster than those experienced by developed nations since 1950. In preparation for this growth, the National Institute on Aging commissioned the National Academies' Committee on Population to organize a workshop on advancing aging research in Africa. This meeting provided a platform for discussing some areas requiring improvement in aging research in SSA regions. We believed that conducting a systematic review of peer-reviewed articles to set priorities for aging research in SSA is warranted. Therefore, this article is the first in a Four-Part series that summaries the types and trends of peer-reviewed studies in SSA.METHODS:This systematic mapping review followed the Search-Appraisal-Synthesis-Analysis Framework. We systematically searched multiple databases from inception till February 2021 and included peer-reviewed articles conducted with/for older adults residing in SSA. Conventional content analysis was employed to categorize studies into subject-related areas.RESULTS:We included 512 studies (quantitative = 426, qualitative = 71 and mixed-method = 15). Studies were conducted in 32 countries. Quantitative studies included were observational studies: cross-sectional (n = 250, 59%), longitudinal (n = 126, 30%), and case-control (n = 12, 3%); and experimental studies: pre-post design (n = 4, 1%), randomized control trial (RCT, n = 12, 3%); and not reported (n = 21, 5%). Fifteen qualitative studies did not state their study design; where stated, study design ranged from descriptive (n = 14, 20%), ethnography (n = 12, 17%), grounded theory (n = 7, 10%), narrative (n = 5, 7%), phenomenology (n = 10, 14%), interpretative exploratory (n = 4, 6%), case studies (n = 4, 6%). Of the 15 mixed-method studies, seven did not state their mixed-method design. Where stated, design includes concurrent (n = 1), convergent (n = 1), cross-sectional (n = 3), informative (n = 1), sequential exploratory (n = 1) and retrospective (n = 2). Studies were classified into 30 (for quantitative studies) and seven (for qualitative and mixed-method) subject-related areas. HIV/AIDs-related and non-communicable diseases-related studies were the most predominant subject-related areas. No studies explored the transdisciplinary co-production of interventions.CONCLUSIONS:There are glaring gaps in ageing research in SSA, especially mixed-methods and RCTs. A large number of studies focused on HIV/AIDs and non-communicable disease-related studies. National and international funding agencies should set up priority funding competitions for transdisciplinary collaborations in ageing research.

Introduction Functional deficits such as gait speed, muscle strength or reduced activities in daily living after discharge are predictors for hospital readmission for older adults with hip fractures. However, physiotherapists (PTs) who are inherently mobility experts, do not actively participate during the hospital-to-home transition of older adults with hip fractures in the developing countries, including Nigeria. This qualitative study aims to describe and explore how PTs working within inpatient rehabilitation units prepare older adults (≥60 years) with a hip fracture for transfer to their home in the community. Methods We will adopt Sally Thorne’s Interpretive Description approach to purposively select 25 PTs with 5-years experience of participating in discharging older adults with hip fractures from inpatient rehabilitation-to-home. Data collection will include (a) semi-structured, one-on-one interviews with PTs, (b) discharge summaries of two older adults, and (c) final focus group discussion with PTs. We will ask the physiotherapists to provide discharge summaries of two older adults - one that they described as a “difficult” case and one that they described as an “easy” case during inpatient rehabilitation-to-home transition. Data will be analyzed employing Sally Thorne’s “borrowing techniques”- content and thematic analysis for the patients’ discharge summaries and PT interviews, respectively.

Background: Rounded protruding gluteus has been asserted to be an important feature of feminine beauty and self-image. Currently, there is large influx of gymnasiums to achieve this end as claimed by gym operators amid the dearth in literature to support their claims. Aim: The aim of this study was to provide an empirical evidence to support or disprove claims about the effectiveness of resistance training exercises such as squats and donkey kick on the gluteal muscles. Materials and Methods: Randomized controlled trial involving 111 young females, aged 18–30 years, were equally assigned into the squat group (SG), donkey kick group (DKG), and control group (CG) using table of random numbers method. Outcomes, such as gluteal muscle strength (GMS), gluteal muscle bulk (GMB), and gluteal adiposity (GA), were assessed at baseline, third week, and sixth week and analyzed descriptively and inferentially (α = 0.05). Result: The post-intervention across group comparison revealed a significant difference in right (F = 4.829, P = 0.010) and left (F = 7.252, P = 0.001) GA, right (F = 12.467, P < 0.0001) and left (F = 10.235, P < 0.0001) GMS, and in the GMB (F = 8.280, P = 0.001). The post hoc test showed that the SG had the most profound effect in increasing GMS and GMB, whereas the DKG had a superlative effect on GA. Conclusion: Six weeks resistant training using squats and donkey kick can be used to improve gluteal muscle characteristic by building GMB, GMS and reducing GA of young female adults.

Introduction There is a growing interest in collaborative care for older adults in Nigeria; however, little is known about the application of a transdisciplinary approach to care in a typical Nigerian geriatric unit. Therefore, we described healthcare professionals’ (HCPs’) perception of a transdisciplinary approach to older adults’ care in Southern Nigeria. Methods Using Stakian’s approach to a qualitative case study, we purposively invited 16 HCPs working in the geriatric unit of a teaching hospital in Nigeria to a single, in-depth, semi-structured interview. We analysed data using Stakian’s approach of categorical aggregation and direct interpretation. Results Our participants identified five-key features of a transdisciplinary approach to care: consolidated consultation, consolidated care documentation, care files accessibility, shared care decision and a designated care manager. HCPs stated that transdisciplinary approach to care allowed for a consolidated consultation of patients, with all the HCPs (in the same room or via telehealth/telemedicine) and care decisions should be shared between all stakeholders and documented in an accessible unified electronic care document that is managed by a care manager. Factors ranging from lack of consensus on time for a consolidation consultation to inter-professional conflicts were perceived as possible hindrances to a transdisciplinary approach to older adults’ care. Discussion The features of transdisciplinary care described in this study partly aligned with the WHO’s integrated care for older people (ICOPE). Additional components not captured in ICOPE were found. While the description of transdisciplinary was from the perceptive of our study participant, caution should be applied when interpreting these findings.

The rapid change in the family support structure in developing countries could jeopardize the concept of reciprocal support an older adult receives in later life. This study explored the perception of reciprocity between older parents and adult children on intergenerational support in Northern Nigeria. We purposely selected 18 participants and conducted face-to-face interviews. We analyzed the data using descriptive phenomenological method analysis. Three major themes emerged: characteristics of support, perceived support given and received to/from children, and perceived indebtedness/credit. Financial support is one of the most common types of support received by older adults. The perceived support given to adult children was expressed as "huge and sacrificial" by older adults. The adult children felt they are providing less support than they have received from their parents and expressed the feeling of indebtedness to their older parents. Generally, adult children perceived the need to reciprocate past support received from their older parents. The perception of reciprocity remains strong among Nigerians and plays a vital role in promoting intergenerational support between older parents and adult children. We discuss the implications of the findings, including the role of professionals to promote provision of other forms of support to older adults.