Experiences of Life with Long Term Conditions in Africa: A Meta-Ethnography

Phiri, N. S. , Wyke, S. , Crampin, M. and Bunn, C. (2023) Experiences of Life with Long Term Conditions in Africa: A Meta-Ethnography. British Sociological Association Medical Sociology Conference 2023, Sussex, UK, 13-15 Sept 2023.

Abstract

Background: Long-term conditions are a growing burden for African countries, producing a ‘double burden’ of non-communicable and communicable disease, placing pressure on already strained healthcare services and communities. A growing body of research has characterised how long-term conditions are experienced across the region, but no syntheses have been attempted. Our study investigates commonalities and differences in experiences of long-term conditions in Africa. Methods: We conducted a meta-ethnography of qualitative research that presented findings relating to lived experiences of long-term conditions in Africa, following the eMERGE guideline. We searched Embase, OVID MEDLINE, PsychINFO, Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), SocINDEX and African Index Medicus databases. After screening, full texts were coded in NVivo 12 for first and second order constructs, which were analysed inductively to generate third order synthesis. Preliminary Findings: Our search identified a total of 8,483 records. After screening, 50 were included in the review. Research addressed experiences of 17 diseases categories in 13 countries. Our preliminary analysis suggests that literature to date offers insight into how people across Africa make sense of long-term conditions, how social contexts shape illness experience, how life with long-term conditions reconstructs the self and how these shape illness (re-)actions. Preliminary Conclusions: Literature on life with long term conditions across Africa is substantial and there is significant theoretical affinity between this research and established sociologies of chronic illness. However, the diverse contexts covered by the review demand theoretical developments to account for the specificity of chronic illness experiences across African countries.

• Item Type: Conference or Workshop Item
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Wyke, Professor Sally and Bunn, Dr Christopher and Phiri, Nozgechi Sophie and Crampin, Professor Mia
• Authors: Phiri, N. S., Wyke, S., Crampin, M., and Bunn, C.
• Subjects: H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General); H Social Sciences > HM Sociology; R Medicine > R Medicine (General); R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences; College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > General Practice and Primary Care; College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > Public Health; College of Social Sciences > School of Social and Political Sciences > Sociology Anthropology and Applied Social Sciences

Project Code	Award No	Project Name	Principal Investigator	Funder's Name	Funder Ref	Lead Dept
306006		Healthy Lives - Malawi, Intergenerational family cohort of chronic conditions	Amelia Crampin	Wellcome Trust (WELLCOTR)	217073/Z/19/Z	S&PS - Institute of Health & Wellbeing (Social Sciences)