Pediatric Diabetes in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Region: A Scoping Review of Regional Practices, Challenges, and Research Gaps

Pediatric diabetes represents a growing clinical and public health challenge globally, with distinct epidemiological, health system, and sociocultural considerations across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Although diabetes among children and adolescents is increasingly recognised within the region, the existing research evidence remains fragmented, unevenly distributed across countries, and heterogeneous in focus and methodology. As a result, there is limited clarity regarding prevailing care practices, key challenges, and priority research gaps relevant to pediatric diabetes management in the MENA context. This study is a scoping review that aims to systematically map the existing literature on pediatric diabetes in the MENA region. The review focuses on children and adolescents with diabetes, as well as parents, caregivers, and other stakeholders involved in pediatric diabetes care. It examines a broad range of evidence related to clinical management, psychosocial wellbeing, family and caregiver experiences, healthcare system factors, and barriers and facilitators influencing diabetes care. By adopting a scoping review methodology, the study seeks to describe the extent, nature, and characteristics of the available evidence rather than to assess intervention effectiveness. The primary purpose of this review is to provide a comprehensive overview of pediatric diabetes research conducted in the MENA region, including the distribution of studies by country, publication year, study design, population, and healthcare setting. In addition, the review identifies dominant thematic and outcome domains addressed in the literature and systematically synthesises reported barriers, facilitators, and research gaps. Both author-reported gaps and reviewer-identified gaps are examined to provide a nuanced understanding of limitations within the current evidence base. The expected outcomes of this study include a detailed mapping of the pediatric diabetes research landscape in the MENA region, identification of underrepresented populations, settings, and countries, and clarification of priority areas for future research. The findings are intended to inform clinical practice, support health system planning, and guide policymakers and researchers in developing contextually relevant and methodologically robust approaches to pediatric diabetes care. The study analyses publicly available literature only and does not involve the collection of primary data from human participants.