Factors influencing primary care access for common mental health conditions among adults in West Africa: A scoping review

Background Mental health conditions are a significant threat to global health and have recently seen increased efforts to tackle them. Despite these efforts, common mental health conditions like stress, anxiety disorders, depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and substance use disorder continue to affect many people worldwide. In West Africa, the situation is worse because of the many factors that hinder access to primary care for these conditions. Our scoping review explored the factors that influence primary care access for common mental health conditions among adults in West Africa. Methods Using the approach for the conduct of scoping reviews described by Arksey and O’Malley in 2005, five electronic databases (PubMed, Embase, PsycINFO, CAIRN INFO, and Google Scholar), were searched for articles published between 1st January 2002 and 31st January 2024. Papers were screened by two independent reviewers and selected based on predetermined inclusion and exclusion criteria. This review adheres to the requirements of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses, extension for scoping reviews. Results After removing duplicate records titles and abstracts were screened for 1736 articles resulting in 39 articles eligible for full-text screening. After full-text screening, 28 articles were included in the review. Our review revealed that the factors that influence primary care access for common mental health conditions in West Africa act either at the level of the patient, the primary healthcare facility, or outside these two levels at the contextual level. Contextual factors include social norms, cultural beliefs, traditions, and socio-economic status. They influence primary care access for mental health by affecting the patient level and healthcare facility-level factors. Furthermore, the domains of influence at the patient level and facility level are interrelated. Conclusion Factors influencing primary care access for common mental health conditions among adults in West Africa are multiple, complex, and interrelated. Effective Interventions to improve primary care access for mental health need to be multi-faceted addressing individual, facility and systems, as well as contextual factors.