{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,15]],"date-time":"2026-10-15T23:55:34Z","timestamp":1792108534063,"version":"4.4.0"},"reference-count":25,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"5","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,5,8]],"date-time":"2025-05-08T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1746662400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["IJERPH"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Human immunodeficiency virus remains a persistent public health challenge in Africa, with cultural and religious beliefs influencing testing and prevention behaviors. Understanding these influences is important for developing culturally appropriate interventions. This scoping review protocol outlines a plan to systematically map the existing literature on the impact of traditional and religious beliefs, and the roles of traditional and religious leaders, on HIV testing and prevention behaviors across African contexts. Following Arksey and O\u2019Malley\u2019s framework, the review will progress through six methodical stages. By identifying, analyzing, and summarizing the relevant literature and consulting stakeholders, this review aims to inform the development of culturally informed public health interventions and identify areas requiring further research. The intended outcome is a structured overview of how traditional and religious beliefs and leaders shape HIV testing and prevention behaviors, identifying contextual factors to guide the creation of effective HIV prevention programs within African communities. This scoping review protocol has been shared on Open Science Framework (OSF).<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph22050743","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,5,8]],"date-time":"2025-05-08T11:37:02Z","timestamp":1746704222000},"page":"743","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":5,"title":["The Role of Traditional and Religious Beliefs in HIV Testing and Prevention in Africa: A Scoping Review Protocol"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"22","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-3410-7167","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Silingene Joyce","family":"Ngcobo","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Discipline of Nursing and Public Health, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban 4000, South Africa"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-1681-4821","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Tracy","family":"Zhandire","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Discipline of Nursing and Public Health, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban 4000, South Africa"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,5,8]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"150","DOI":"10.1007\/s10461-022-03751-0","article-title":"Implementing HIV Prevention in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Review of Interventions Targeting Systems, Communities, and Individuals","volume":"27","author":"Rapaport","year":"2023","journal-title":"AIDS Behav."},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"753","DOI":"10.4314\/ahs.v17i3.18","article-title":"Influence of faith-based organisations on HIV prevention strategies in Africa: A systematic review","volume":"17","author":"Ochillo","year":"2017","journal-title":"Afr. 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