A SCOPING REVIEW PROTOCOL ON THE EFFECT OF GYNAECOLOGICAL CANCERS: THEIR DIAGNOSES AND MANAGEMENT ON THE MENTAL HEALTH OF AFFECTED WOMEN IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA.

Abstract

Introduction: Mental health describes an individual's emotional, psychological, and social well-being. The diagnosis of precancers and cancers may result in different mental health manifestations. This review will examine the existing evidence on the effects of diagnosis, management, and prognosis of the four common gynaecological malignancies (ovarian, endometrial, cervical cancer, and endometrial trophoblastic neoplasia) and two precursor lesions (premalignant lesions of the cervix and hydatidiform mole) on the mental health of affected women in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Materials & Methods: Electronic databases will be thoroughly searched, all potentially eligible studies will be downloaded and reviewed, and the data mapping will be done to present the study findings. Conclusion: The outcome of this scoping review may showcase existing information, gaps in knowledge, and the future direction of research on mental health problems associated with common gynaecological cancers in SSA.