Abstract

Air pollution is a global concern which has adverse effects
on human health. In sub-Saharan Africa(SSA), several
sources of emission, such as industrial processes and
combustion engines, contribute significantly to air pollution
due to the region’s reliance on conventional energy sources.
However, there is little knowledge regarding policies and
management frameworks in place in sub-Saharan Africa to
address the issue of air pollution. As a result, a better
understanding of the policy and management landscape is
crucial for guiding interventions and providing information
for decision-making to decrease the health risks related to
air pollution in SSA.
Method
Systematic searching of published research were obtained
from PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, Google
Scholar, and grey literature between 2005 and February
2023. 1,843 studies were found in the primary search. After
removing duplicates, 1,236 studies were assessed for
eligibility using only the titles and abstracts. After screening
for appropriateness, 50 studies were chosen for full-text
review, and 20 were ultimately included in the systematic
review.
Results
There has been a Policy on Air Pollution in Sub-Saharan
Africa, but the enforcement and/or management is very
poor. There is a critical need for improved air pollution
policies and management frameworks in sub-Saharan Africa
(SSA).
Conclusion
Governments and non-governmental organisations involved
in decision making in SSA should emphasis the creation and
execution of policies based on empirical evidence that
considers the specific circumstances faced by individual
nations and regions. To chart progress and identify problem
areas, establishing good monitoring and assessment
mechanisms is essential.