Protocol for Scoping Review of Mediators of Women’s Care-seeking Behaviour During Infectious Disease Outbreaks in Sub-sahara Africa (SSA)

Abstract Globally, there continues to be a surge in infectious disease outbreaks. While old diseases are re-emerging, new ones are also emerging. This speed of emergence and re-emergence is accelerated by human development, changes in demographics, population, and the environment. We continue to see new patterns of disease infections from their natural hosts to humans, with pathogens now travelling beyond traditional vector areas and spreading to previously unaffected environments. Lessons from Ebola tell us that women and children will be disproportionately affected by infectious disease outbreaks. A mother’s health-seeking behaviour has direct implications for the health of her children and the entire family. The way women reach health decisions could be the deciding factor in whether they or their children live. The broad objective of this review of the literature is to explore, identify, and map gaps in the literature on factors resulting from infectious diseases outbreak that could impact women’s health care decision-making. The review will compare health-seeking behaviour in sub-Sahara Africa during outbreak and non-outbreak periods, to generate a comparative analysis of the health behaviour of women of reproductive age and factors impacting on their health-seeking behaviour when there is an outbreak versus no outbreak. It is anticipated to be of interest to sub-Saharan Africa governments, national and international policymakers, and researchers, seeking to expand their attention to mothers and their children’s needs in emergency preparedness.