Perceptions and Barriers to Accessing Mental Health Services among Black African Women in Britain: A Qualitative Systematic Review Protocol

Review title
Perceptions and Barriers to Accessing Mental Health Services among Black African Women in Britain: A Qualitative Systematic Review Protocol

Condition or domain being studied
Access to mental health services among Black African women in Britain

Rationale for the review
Black African women in Britain face unique cultural, social, and systemic barriers to accessing mental health services, leading to poor mental health outcomes and underutilisation of services. Existing literature highlights disparities in mental health care, but there is lack of synthesised evidence on the specific perceptions and experiences of Black African women in Britain. This systematic review aims to bridge this gap, informing culturally sensitive interventions and policy changes to improve mental health service access and outcomes for this underserved population

Review objectives
i) Synthesise qualitative evidence on how Black African women in Britain perceive mental health.

ii) Identify cultural, structural, interpersonal, and individual barriers to service access.

iii) Explore how gender, race, and migration intersect to shape help-seeking behaviours.

Keywords
Black African Women; Mental health; Access; Barriers; UK; Mental health services; Healthcare disparities; Ethnic minority; Systematic review

Country
United Kingdom; England; Scotland; Wales