Introduction
Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is an important curative therapy for both malignant and non-malignant hematologic diseases. Many of these diseases, such as leukemia, lymphoma, multiple myeloma, and sickle cell disease, are particularly prominent in Sub-Saharan Africa. With a population of over 1.2 billion, Sub-Saharan Africa is considered the poorest region in the world. According to current literature, there are only three medical centers in Sub-Saharan Africa with the capability for HSCT. This suggests a huge disparity in access to HSCT in this region. Furthermore, there is a paucity of published research on this topic. This is the first literature review on HSCT in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Methods
A PubMed search was conducted with the search term “Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation” and its derivatives in combination with “Sub-Saharan Africa” and its derivatives, including all of the 48 individual countries within Sub-Saharan Africa. Any journal article, review article, or clinical trial with these terms from the years 2004 – 2024 were included in the initial search, which resulted in 130 articles. These articles were thoroughly reviewed for their relevance to the topic at hand, and 21 were ultimately selected for this literature review.
Discussion
HSCT is performed most frequently in countries with higher gross national incomes. According to the 2006–2013 report of the Worldwide Network for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (WBMT), Africa has the lowest transplant rate in the world. Currently, South Africa, Nigeria, and Tanzania are the only countries with HSCT facilities in Sub-Saharan Africa. Operating a HSCT facility poses unique challenges in developing countries due to a myriad of barriers, including limited infrastructure, high costs, and the need for intensive training of medical staff. Increased access to HSCT is desperately needed in Sub-Saharan Africa, and more research must be done on this topic to address this need.