Table 1

Search strategy for papers on evidence of neglect of the elderly in sub-Saharan Africa

ItemsSearch strategy
DatabaseOvid Medline, PubMed, CINAHL, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Joanna Briggs Institute, grey literature, professional society websites and the International Clinical Trials Registry Platform
Language filterEnglish
Time filterJanuary 2000 and later
SpatialSub-Saharan Africa
Keywords

  1. “Older adults” OR “elderly” AND “neglect” OR “forsake” OR ‘abandoned’ AND “sub-Saharan Africa” will be identified

  2. “Social” OR “economic,” AND “healthcare,” ‘physical’, OR ‘emotional’, OR ‘political’ OR ‘marriage’, OR ‘education’ AND ‘residential’

Inclusion criteriaThe paper should be

  1. Studies focusing on individuals aged 60 years and above residing in the sub-Saharan Africa

  2. Studies addressing neglect of the elderly

  3. Qualitative research studies only

  4. Peer-reviewed articles and grey literature such as reports, dissertations and conference proceedings published in English language only

Exclusion criteriaThe paper should be

  1. Studies focusing on elderly populations outside of the sub-Saharan Africa

  2. Studies focusing solely on topics unrelated to neglect of the elderly

  3. Quantitative research studies, systematic reviews, meta-analyses and editorials without original qualitative data

  4. Non-peer-reviewed materials in languages other than English without available translations