African Migrants and Lifestyle Diseases in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Review

Abstract

The rising prevalence of lifestyle-related non-communicable diseases (NCDs) among African populations has become a critical public health concern, yet evidence on African migrants within Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) remains limited. This systematic review synthesizes findings from 15 eligible studies published between 2000 and 2025, guided by PRISMA 2020 and the PICO framework. The review examined three core questions: the prevalence of NCDs among African migrants in SSA, the influence of migration-related lifestyle changes on NCD risk, and barriers to accessing preventive and treatment services. Results indicate a significant burden of hypertension, obesity, and type 2 diabetes among rural-to-urban migrants, with obesity prevalence reaching 43.9% in women and hypertension as high as 40.4% in semi-urban populations. Migration-driven lifestyle transitions, such as reduced physical activity, high-calorie diets, and psychosocial stress emerged as key determinants of cardiometabolic risk. Gender disparities were evident, with migrant women disproportionately affected. Access to NCD care remains constrained by systemic barriers, including inadequate diagnostic capacity, drug shortages, and low health literacy, resulting in high rates of undiagnosed conditions. These findings underscore the urgent need for targeted, culturally sensitive interventions, integrated screening programs, and gender-responsive strategies to mitigate the growing NCD burden among African migrants in SSA.