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Purpose: Little is known about how people living with dysphagia in rural, socioeconomically impoverished contexts in Africa are supported and manage their disability. This scoping review sought to map and synthesise evidence relating to the management of dysphagia in adults in community/home settings in Africa as a starting point for a broader study on this topic. Method: A multifaceted search strategy involved searches of electronic databases and grey literature, hand searches, ancestry searches, and consultation with expert advisors. Records were screened by two blinded researchers. Characteristics of included studies were summarised, and their findings synthesised using the Framework approach. Result: Six studies were included, relating to services for people with dysphagia secondary to various aetiologies. No grey literature was identified that provided service delivery descriptions or practice guidance. This limited evidence suggests little professional support is available to people living with dysphagia in the community. Individuals and carers use a range of strategies, including choosing different food and drink items and modifying how food is chewed and swallowed. Conclusion: Further research is required to understand current practice in managing dysphagia in the community in Africa, and the needs and priorities of community members who experience dysphagia and their carers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Equitable partnerships across borders, sectors and communities are integral in creating shared understanding, novel solutions and sustainable development. Sustainable development goal (SDG) 17: Partnerships for goals, focuses on strengthening global partnerships. This highlights the importance of partnership as a tool to support the achievement of all SDGs. Partnerships are particularly vital to creating sustainable and appropriate services to support people who experience communication or swallowing disability and their families, in under-served communities, where services and expert personnel may be limited and where innovative strategies are required for working with families and communities to improve service accessibility. To reflect on key principles underpinning the creation of a speech–language pathologists' (SLPs') community of practice, designed to support SLPs from high-, low- and middle-income countries to develop equitable partnerships, aimed at supporting people who experience communication or swallowing disability their families. We draw on the authors' experiences of building partnerships to enhance participation for people who experience communication or swallowing disability. We discuss the need for global partnerships and challenges with current funding mechanisms. We use the principles of the speech–language pathology community of practice and concepts from the Partnership Accelerator 2030 Agenda to frame reflections and recommendations. This commentary paper focuses on partnerships for the goals (SDG 17). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: In Majority World countries, where speech-language pathology services are extremely limited, people with communication disabilities (PWCD) may seek help from a range of service providers. This qualitative research aimed to explore the nature of community services offered to people with communication disabilities who seek help in Accra, Ghana. Method: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with nine individuals from three professions: pastors (3), doctors (3), and herbalists (3) exploring services that they may offer to PWCD seeking help. Interviews were analysed using Thematic Network Analysis. Result: Six global themes described beliefs about communication disability, types of intervention, explanations provided to people with communication disabilities, promoting communication, processes for selecting treatments, and links between service providers. Interventions encompassed physical, spiritual, psychosocial and environmental approaches, with the notion of plural beliefs interwoven through a number of themes. Conclusion: In Ghana, and other Majority World contexts, service providers in sectors not commonly associated with communication disability rehabilitation may have important roles to play in supporting people with communication disabilities. Understanding the contributions of other service providers may assist the growing profession of speech-language pathology to collaborate across sectors, to develop specific, culturally responsive approaches to service development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]