Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Stroke is an increasing cause of death and disability across Africa, driven by rising vascular risk factors and persistent health-system limitations. Transient ischemic attack (TIA) is a strong predictor of early ischemic stroke and represents a critical window for secondary prevention. However, TIA recognition and management pathways across Africa remain poorly defined and frequently fragmented. This narrative review examines the burden of stroke and available TIA data in Africa, outlines key challenges in TIA recognition and management, and highlights opportunities for context-specific pathway development. Major barriers include low public awareness, delayed presentation, limited access to neuroimaging, workforce shortages, absence of standardized protocols, and financial constraints that undermine continuity of care. Key opportunities include task-sharing, digital health and telemedicine, electronic decision support, strengthened referral systems, lifestyle-based risk-factor reduction, workforce development, and integration of TIA care into broader non-communicable disease strategies. Strengthening structured TIA pathways offers a feasible and high-impact strategy to reduce preventable stroke morbidity and mortality across Africa.
Source: Discover Public Health
Language: English
Subfield: Clinical Neurology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7204599796