Alopecia Areata in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Scoping Review Protocol on Epidemiology, Clinical Presentation, Burden, Treatment, and Evidence Gaps.

This scoping review protocol aims to map the evidence and identify research gaps regarding alopecia areata (AA) in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), where no synthesized evidence currently exists. The review will include all original studies on AA in 49 SSA countries, focusing on epidemiology, clinical presentation, psychosocial burden, treatment patterns, and care barriers. The methodology follows PRISMA-ScR and JBI standards, with data extracted by two independent reviewers. The final review will provide a systematic map of AA in SSA, identifying knowledge clusters and critical voids to guide future research, clinical policy, and improve equitable care.