{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,8]],"date-time":"2026-06-08T08:02:16Z","timestamp":1780905736062,"version":"3.54.1"},"reference-count":57,"publisher":"F1000 Research Ltd","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,8]],"date-time":"2026-06-08T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1780876800000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"DOI":"10.13039\/100001009","name":"The Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","id":[{"id":"10.13039\/100001009","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":["f1000research.com"],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["F1000Res"],"abstract":"<ns3:p>Background Multiple Myeloma (MM) is characterized by the abnormal accumulation of plasma cells in the bone marrow. While the precise epidemiology of MM remains relatively unclear in Africa, its incidence and prevalence continue to rise. Primary prevention is key to effectively managing MM in Africa, due to resource constraints that account for the prevailing disparities in diagnosis and treatment. A comprehensive understanding of current awareness, knowledge and risk perception of MM is thus crucial for the design and implementation of contextually relevant preventive strategies. Aim This scoping review maps evidence on the awareness, knowledge and risk perceptions of MM in Africa. Methods The Arksey and O\u2019Malley framework guided the review process. Electronic databases, namely PubMed, Scopus, CINHAL, Web of Science, and SA-ePublications, were searched to identify relevant research articles. The results are reported using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) flow diagram. Results The initial search yielded 204 studies; after duplicate removal, title and abstract screening, 18 articles were included for full-text review to ascertain eligibility. Eight articles were eventually included in the final review. Conclusion The review reveals a paucity of empirical studies on knowledge, awareness and risk perception of MM in Africa. Generally, current research indicates low levels of knowledge and awareness of MM among healthcare workers. The extant research and reported low levels of awareness may account for the delay in diagnosis and management of the condition, which has consequences for public health and quality of life in the region. Research is urgently required to address prevailing knowledge gaps so that appropriate interventions may be implemented to address current challenges with early detection of MM in Africa.<\/ns3:p>","DOI":"10.12688\/f1000research.178123.1","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,8]],"date-time":"2026-06-08T07:39:09Z","timestamp":1780904349000},"page":"889","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.12688\/f1000research.crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Mapping evidence on Awareness, Knowledge and Risk Perception of Multiple Myeloma (MM) in Africa: A Scoping Review"],"prefix":"10.12688","volume":"15","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-2453-7948","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Celenkosini","family":"Thembelenkosini Nxumalo","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Research Development and Postgraduate Support, Office of the DVC Research and Innovation Bellville Western Cape University of the Western Cape"},{"name":"Discipline of Nursing Durban KwaZulu-Natal University of KwaZulu-Natal School of Nursing and Public Health"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Hlolisile","family":"Chiya","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Discipline of Nursing Durban KwaZulu-Natal University of KwaZulu-Natal School of Nursing and Public Health"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Sibongile","family":"Ramotshela","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Durban KwaZulu-Natal AFIA TIA, Non-Profit Organisation"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0005-2131-3561","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Usangiphile","family":"Buthelezi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Centre for Rural Health Durban KwaZulu-Natal University of KwaZulu-Natal School of Nursing and Public Health"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Zamasomi","family":"Luvuno","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Centre for Rural Health Durban KwaZulu-Natal University of KwaZulu-Natal School of Nursing and Public Health"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"2560","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,8]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"4462","DOI":"10.3390\/ijms22094462","article-title":"The Role of Marrow Microenvironment in the Growth and Development of Malignant Plasma Cells in Multiple Myeloma.","volume":"22","author":"N Giannakoulas","year":"2021","journal-title":"Int. J. Mol. Sci."},{"key":"ref2","article-title":"Monoclonal gammopathy of uncertain significance.","author":"E Alejo","year":"2023","journal-title":"Medicina Cl\u00ednica (English Edition)."},{"key":"ref3","first-page":"373-383A","article-title":"Multiple myeloma: diagnosis and treatment.","volume":"95","author":"T Michels","year":"2017","journal-title":"Am. Fam. Physician."},{"key":"ref4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e670-e677","DOI":"10.1016\/S2352-3026(22)00165-X","article-title":"The epidemiological landscape of multiple myeloma: a global cancer registry estimate of disease burden, risk factors, and temporal trends.","volume":"9","author":"J Huang","year":"2022","journal-title":"The Lancet Haematology."},{"key":"ref5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"04033","DOI":"10.7189\/jogh.14.04033","article-title":"Global, regional, and national burden and quality of care of multiple myeloma, 1990-2019.","volume":"14","author":"J Geng","year":"2024","journal-title":"J. Glob. Health."},{"key":"ref6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"606","DOI":"10.1186\/s12885-021-08280-y","article-title":"Measuring the global, regional, and national burden of multiple myeloma from 1990 to 2019.","volume":"21","author":"L Zhou","year":"2021","journal-title":"BMC Cancer."},{"key":"ref7","article-title":"Understanding multiple myeloma: Diagnosis, clinical presentation, and management.","author":"I Karunarathna","year":"2024","journal-title":"ResearchGate."},{"key":"ref8","first-page":"63-83","article-title":"Multiple myeloma etiology and treatment.","volume":"6","author":"H Sadaf","year":"2022","journal-title":"J. Transl. Genet. Genom."},{"key":"ref9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"548-567","DOI":"10.1002\/ajh.25791","article-title":"Multiple myeloma: 2020 update on diagnosis, risk-stratification and management.","volume":"95","author":"S Rajkumar","year":"2020","journal-title":"Am. J. Hematol."},{"key":"ref10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1178224219868235","DOI":"10.1177\/1178224219868235","article-title":"Multiple myeloma: an overview of management.","volume":"13","author":"S Bird","year":"2019","journal-title":"Palliative Care and Social Practice."},{"key":"ref12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"749-753","DOI":"10.1080\/17474086.2024.2389988","article-title":"Exploring health disparities in diagnosing multiple myeloma.","volume":"17","author":"N Ghalehsari","year":"2024","journal-title":"Expert Rev. Hematol."},{"key":"ref13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1-7","DOI":"10.14740\/jh971","article-title":"Consensus Statement: Importance of Timely Access to Multiple Myeloma Diagnosis and Treatment in Central America and the Caribbean.","volume":"11","author":"M Pimentel","year":"2022","journal-title":"J Hematol."},{"key":"ref14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e1375-e1387","DOI":"10.1016\/S2214-109X(19)30374-2","article-title":"Burden of non-communicable diseases in sub-Saharan Africa, 1990\u20132017: results from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017.","volume":"7","author":"H Gouda","year":"2019","journal-title":"Lancet Glob. Health."},{"key":"ref15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1561-1575","DOI":"10.1007\/s10461-018-02386-4","article-title":"HIV prevalence among tuberculosis patients in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis.","volume":"23","author":"Y Gelaw","year":"2019","journal-title":"AIDS Behav."},{"key":"ref16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e000285","DOI":"10.1136\/esmoopen-2017-000285","article-title":"Global cancer control: responding to the growing burden, rising costs and inequalities in access.","volume":"3","author":"G Prager","year":"2018","journal-title":"ESMO Open."},{"key":"ref17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"202","DOI":"10.3390\/w11020202","article-title":"Socioeconomic factors affecting water access in rural areas of low and middle income countries.","volume":"11","author":"M Gomez","year":"2019","journal-title":"Water."},{"key":"ref18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"34","DOI":"10.1186\/s13031-023-00533-w","article-title":"Primary healthcare delivery models in African conflict-affected settings: a systematic review.","volume":"17","author":"L Omam","year":"2023","journal-title":"Confl. Heal."},{"key":"ref19","article-title":"Continuity and coordination of care: a practice brief to support implementation of the WHO Framework on integrated people-centred health services.","year":"2018"},{"key":"ref20","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"54","DOI":"10.1186\/s43162-021-00088-3","article-title":"Are African primary physicians suspicious enough? Challenges of multiple myeloma diagnosis in Africa.","volume":"33","author":"E Thokerunga","year":"2021","journal-title":"The Egyptian Journal of Internal Medicine."},{"key":"ref21","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"67-83","DOI":"10.46989\/001c.92555","article-title":"Epidemiology, treatment trends, and outcomes of multiple myeloma in the Middle East and Africa: a systematic review.","volume":"6","author":"M Mattar","year":"2024","journal-title":"Clinical Hematology International."},{"key":"ref22","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"237-253","DOI":"10.1111\/tmi.70066","article-title":"Epidemiology of Monoclonal Gammopathies in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of MGUS and Multiple Myeloma.","volume":"31","author":"I Ojo","year":"2026","journal-title":"Trop. Med. Int. Health."},{"key":"ref23","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e0287304","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0287304","article-title":"Profile and outcome of multiple myeloma with and without HIV treated at a tertiary hospital in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.","volume":"18","author":"L Chili","year":"2023","journal-title":"PLoS One."},{"key":"ref24","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"52-58","DOI":"10.4314\/gmj.v53i1.8","article-title":"Presentation and survival of multiple myeloma patients in Ghana: a review of 169 cases.","volume":"53","author":"M Acquah","year":"2019","journal-title":"Ghana Med. J."},{"key":"ref25","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"102992","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ejon.2025.102992","article-title":"Patient and caregiver understanding of multiple myeloma: A scoping review.","volume":"79","author":"R Hunter","year":"2025","journal-title":"Eur. J. Oncol. Nurs."},{"key":"ref26","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"3406","DOI":"10.1038\/s41598-025-88079-0","article-title":"Knowledge, attitude and practice towards multiple myeloma among medical staff in Enshi Region.","volume":"15","author":"L Zou","year":"2025","journal-title":"Sci. Rep."},{"key":"ref27","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"15-20","DOI":"10.22259\/2639-3581.0102003","article-title":"Promoting public health campaign on awareness and screening for multiple myeloma in Nigeria.","volume":"1","author":"O Nwabuko","year":"2018","journal-title":"Arch Hematol Blood Dis."},{"key":"ref28","article-title":"Assessment of the Effectiveness of Health Education and Screening Test in Reducing Multiple Myeloma in the Middle-Elderly Nigerians\u2013A Study Proposal Methodology.","volume":"9","author":"O Nwabuko","year":"2022","journal-title":"British Journal of Healthcare and Medical Research-Vol."},{"key":"ref29","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"19-32","DOI":"10.1080\/1364557032000119616","article-title":"Scoping studies: towards a methodological framework.","volume":"8","author":"H Arksey","year":"2005","journal-title":"Int. J. Soc. Res. Methodol."},{"key":"ref30","article-title":"Plasma Cell Myeloma: Challenges in Diagnosis in Sub-Saharan Africa.","author":"N Collins"},{"key":"ref31","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"781-787","DOI":"10.7196\/SAMJ.2017.v107i9.12360","article-title":"Concomitant HIV infection in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients is hard to recognise and should be tested for routinely in areas of high endemicity.","volume":"107","author":"J De Groot","year":"2017","journal-title":"S. Afr. Med. J."},{"key":"ref32","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"400-407","DOI":"10.1200\/go.20.00572","article-title":"Building a sustainable comprehensive multiple myeloma program in western Kenya.","volume":"7","author":"M Oduor","year":"2021","journal-title":"JCO Glob Oncol."},{"key":"ref33","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e1-e6","DOI":"10.4102\/safp.v65i1.5644","article-title":"Medical practitioners\u2019 knowledge and awareness of multiple myeloma at public hospitals, Gauteng, South Africa.","volume":"65","author":"A Pooe","year":"2023","journal-title":"S. Afr. Fam. Pract."},{"key":"ref34","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e2300416","DOI":"10.1200\/GO.23.00416","article-title":"Expanding Myeloma Training and Care in Western Kenya Through the ECHO Model: The Pilot Phase.","volume":"10","author":"M Oduor","year":"2024","journal-title":"JCO Global Oncology."},{"key":"ref35","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.2174\/0118749445347980241113054601","article-title":"Assessment of Educational Needs of Patients in Clinical Hematology Towards the Implementation of a Structured Therapeutic Education Program.","volume":"17","author":"M El Habchi","year":"2024","journal-title":"Open Public Health J."},{"key":"ref36","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e696-e703.e2","DOI":"10.1016\/j.clml.2025.05.023","article-title":"Monoclonal Gammopathies in Africa.","volume":"25","author":"A Bolarinwa","year":"2025","journal-title":"Clin. Lymphoma Myeloma Leuk."},{"key":"ref37","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"261-267","DOI":"10.1016\/j.amepre.2010.10.023","article-title":"The Roles of Healthcare Professionals in Implementing Clinical Prevention and Population Health.","volume":"40","author":"T Zenzano","year":"2011","journal-title":"Am. J. Prev. Med."},{"key":"ref38","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"153-162","DOI":"10.1111\/scs.13100","article-title":"District nurses' perspectives on health-promotive and disease-preventive work at primary health care centres: A qualitative study.","volume":"37","author":"F Lundin Gurne","year":"2023","journal-title":"Scand. J. Caring Sci."},{"key":"ref39","first-page":"1949-1964","article-title":"The role of physicians in promoting preventive healthcare.","volume":"8","author":"Y Almarzouq","year":"2024","journal-title":"Int. J. Health Sci."},{"key":"ref40","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1242-1251","DOI":"10.1007\/s10900-020-00882-0","article-title":"Assessment of knowledge, attitudes, and perception of health care workers regarding COVID-19, a cross-sectional study from Egypt.","volume":"45","author":"W Abdel Wahed","year":"2020","journal-title":"J. Community Health."},{"key":"ref41","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"570","DOI":"10.4081\/jphia.2016.570","article-title":"Healthcare professionals\u2019 awareness, knowledge, attitudes, perceptions and beliefs about Ebola at Gondar University Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study.","volume":"7","author":"T Abebe","year":"2016","journal-title":"Journal of Public Health in Africa."},{"key":"ref42","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"5642","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph20095642","article-title":"An evaluation of community health workers\u2019 knowledge, attitude and personal lifestyle behaviour in non-communicable disease health promotion and their association with self-efficacy and NCD-risk perception.","volume":"20","author":"M Yenit","year":"2023","journal-title":"Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health."},{"key":"ref43","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"143","DOI":"10.1186\/s12913-015-0812-5","article-title":"The perceptions and perspectives of patients and health care providers on chronic diseases management in rural South Africa: a qualitative study.","volume":"15","author":"E Maimela","year":"2015","journal-title":"BMC Health Serv. Res."},{"key":"ref44","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e33","DOI":"10.1097\/HS9.0000000000000033","article-title":"Identifying educational needs and practice gaps of European hematologists and hematology nurses in the treatment and management of multiple myeloma.","volume":"2","author":"S Murray","year":"2018","journal-title":"HemaSphere."},{"key":"ref45","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"8-15","DOI":"10.9734\/ibrr\/2024\/v15i4345","article-title":"Diagnostic Challenges in Hematological Malignancies in Nigeria and their Impact on Treatment Outcome.","volume":"15","author":"S Obu","year":"2024","journal-title":"International Blood Research & Reviews."},{"key":"ref46","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1-6","DOI":"10.33696\/haematology.6.062","article-title":"Diagnostic and Prognostic Challenges in Cytology for Multiple Myeloma: A Case Series in a Resource-limited Setting.","volume":"6","author":"M Coly","year":"2025","journal-title":"Journal of Clinical Haematology."},{"key":"ref47","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1708","DOI":"10.3390\/diagnostics15131708","article-title":"Challenges, Difficulties, and Delayed Diagnosis of Multiple Myeloma.","volume":"15","author":"T Zorlu","year":"2025","journal-title":"Diagnostics."},{"key":"ref48","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2005","DOI":"10.3332\/ecancer.2025.2005","article-title":"Optimising multiple myeloma therapy in resource-limited settings: current perspectives and challenges.","volume":"19","author":"B Tiwari","year":"2025","journal-title":"Ecancermedicalscience."},{"key":"ref49","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"635-640","DOI":"10.1093\/qjmed\/hcm077","article-title":"Multiple myeloma: causes and consequences of delay in diagnosis.","volume":"100","author":"C Kariyawasan","year":"2007","journal-title":"QJM: An International Journal of Medicine."},{"key":"ref50","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1294-1294","DOI":"10.1182\/blood.V124.21.1294.1294","article-title":"Current State of Patient Awareness and Participation in Care for Multiple Myeloma and the Psychophysical Impact of Treatment: An International Internet-Based Study.","volume":"124","author":"S Ailawadhi","year":"2014","journal-title":"Blood."},{"key":"ref51","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"425-433","DOI":"10.1177\/10781552211001928","article-title":"Awareness of myeloma care and the global impact of treatment: An international internet-based prospective study.","volume":"28","author":"S Ailawadhi","year":"2021","journal-title":"J. Oncol. Pharm. Pract."},{"key":"ref52","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1995-2027","DOI":"10.1007\/s10389-021-01688-7","article-title":"Knowledge, awareness, attitudes and screening practices towards breast and cervical cancer among women in Nepal: a scoping review.","volume":"30","author":"C Rademaker","year":"2022","journal-title":"J. Public Health."},{"key":"ref53","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"4210","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph19074210","article-title":"Knowledge of human papillomavirus and cervical cancer among women attending gynecology clinics in Pretoria, South Africa.","volume":"19","author":"T Tiiti","year":"2022","journal-title":"Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health."},{"key":"ref54","first-page":"619-621","article-title":"Health education: theoretical concepts, effective strategies and core competencies.","volume":"15","author":"S Hou","year":"2014","journal-title":"Health Promot. Pract."},{"key":"ref55","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e670-e677","DOI":"10.1016\/S2352-3026(22)00165-X","article-title":"The epidemiological landscape of multiple myeloma: a global cancer registry estimate of disease burden, risk factors, and temporal trends.","volume":"9","author":"J Huang","year":"2022","journal-title":"The Lancet Haematology."},{"key":"ref56","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"907-914","DOI":"10.1093\/jnci\/djae321","article-title":"The global multiple myeloma incidence and mortality burden in 2022 and predictions for 2045.","volume":"117","author":"A Mafra","year":"2024","journal-title":"JNCI J. Natl. Cancer Inst."},{"key":"ref57","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"237-253","DOI":"10.1111\/tmi.70066","article-title":"Epidemiology of Monoclonal Gammopathies in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of MGUS and Multiple Myeloma.","volume":"31","author":"I Ojo","year":"2026","journal-title":"Trop. Med. Int. Health."},{"key":"ref58","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","author":"C Nxumalo","DOI":"10.17605\/OSF.IO\/UZAN7"}],"container-title":["F1000Research"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/f1000research.com\/articles\/15-889\/v1\/xml","content-type":"application\/xml","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/f1000research.com\/articles\/15-889\/v1\/pdf","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/f1000research.com\/articles\/15-889\/v1\/iparadigms","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,8]],"date-time":"2026-06-08T07:49:08Z","timestamp":1780904948000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/f1000research.com\/articles\/15-889\/v1"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,8]]},"references-count":57,"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.12688\/f1000research.178123.1","relation":{},"ISSN":["2046-1402"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2046-1402","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,8]]},"assertion":[{"value":"Awaiting Peer Review","URL":"https:\/\/f1000research.com\/articles\/15-889\/v1#article-reports","order":0,"name":"referee-status","label":"Referee status","group":{"name":"current-referee-status","label":"Current Referee Status"}},{"value":"The research reported in this article was funded by the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of funder or affiliation of the authors. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.","order":0,"name":"grant-information","label":"Grant Information"},{"value":"This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Licence, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.","order":0,"name":"copyright-info","label":"Copyright"}]}}