{
  "abstract": "Introduction Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) have been the leading global cause of death for two decades, with a disproportionate impact on low- and middle-income countries. Despite the development of technical packages such as the WHO Best Buys, the adoption and implementation of NCD policies pose significant challenges. This scoping review explores the factors influencing the NCD policy process, including agenda setting, formulation, adoption, implementation and evaluation stages.Methods This scoping review followed the methodological framework provided by Levac et al. To identify relevant studies for the scoping review, we searched the literature in the following databases: Web of Science and Scopus using PubMed. Reviewers independently screened titles, abstracts and full texts, and extracted data from the included studies. The results were collected using Excel and synthesised using descriptive numerical and thematic analysis.Results The search yielded 7538 records, after screening for title, abstract and full text, 35 articles met the inclusion criteria for this review. Six different types of policy actors were identified, namely, (i) government, (ii) private sector, (iii) advocates, (iv) experts, (v) international partners, (vi) experts and (vii) general public. Policy actors used lobbying tactics to influence how the policy process was executed; however, it was unclear how the process of influence took place. We identified six barriers of the NCD policy process: (i) limited access to resources, (ii) limited reliable local data, (iii) role of the government, (iv) limited multisectoral collaboration, (v) limited infrastructure, (vi) knowledge and belief. Six facilitators of the NCD policy process were identified: (i) multisectoral approach, (ii) sufficient capacity and financial resources, (iii) access to reliable local evidence, (iv) strong advocacy, (v) existing infrastructures, and (vi) political will were reported.Conclusion Findings from this review revealed a knowledge gap in understanding of the tactics used by actors to influence the policy process and the absence of evidence related to the evaluation of NCD policies in Sub-Saharan Africa.",
  "authors": [
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Heidelberg Institute of Global Health, Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany"
      ],
      "name": "Enny Brouns"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "School of Public Health, University of the Western Cape, Cape Town, South Africa",
        "Centre for Epidemic Response and Innovation, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, Western Cape, South Africa"
      ],
      "name": "Chanelle Mulopo"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "School of Public Health, University of the Western Cape, Bellville, South Africa"
      ],
      "name": "Solange Mianda"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Heidelberg Institute of Global Health, Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany"
      ],
      "name": "Joy Mauti"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Institute of Public Health, Ruprecht Karls Universitat Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany",
        "International Health, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA"
      ],
      "name": "Shannon McMahon"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Heidelberg Institute of Global Health, Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany",
        "Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA"
      ],
      "name": "Connie Hoe"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "School of Public Health, University of the Western Cape, Bellville, South Africa",
        "Health Systems Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Cape Town, South Africa"
      ],
      "name": "Bey-Marrie Schmidt"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Factors influencing non-communicable disease policy process in Sub-Saharan Africa: a scoping review",
  "uid": "3aaa42fb-fe2f-5449-80ea-5cca7df86083"
}