Mental Health Outcomes among Women with Cervical Cancer in Africa: A Scoping Review

Background: Cervical cancer is one of the major contributors to cancer-related morbidity and mortality in women in Africa. Even though there is conclusive evidence regarding the physical toll of this condition, there is little known about mental health outcomes in women who suffer from this condition. Objective: The aim of this scoping review was to map existing findings on mental health outcomes for women suffering from cervical cancer in Africa. Methods: The scoping review was carried out using the PRISMA-ScR. Electronic databases (PubMed, Scopus, African Index Medicus, and Google Scholar) were utilized for searching through peer-reviewed literature in English up until 2025. The inclusion criteria comprised literature studying the mental health outcomes of women with cervical cancer in Africa. The literature was examined for features and outcomes relating to mental health, alongside the key findings. Results: A total of 15 studies satisfied the inclusion criteria. The most reported outcome was depression, anxiety, psychological distress, and a compromised quality of life. Prevalence of depression was reported between 25% and 50% and anxiety was up to 38% in some studies. Factors that escalated psychological distress include stigma, fear of death, a lack of certainty regarding the treatment, a concern regarding infertile partners, and isolation. Quality of life, especially emotional and social aspects, was severely affected. Only a few studies assessed structured interventions. There was a lack of available mental health care. Conclusion: Mental health issues are found at a high level of prevalence among women with cervical cancer in Africa, but there is little treatment provided for mental health issues in cervical cancer treatment systems. There is a pressing need for cervical cancer treatment systems that include systematic mental health screening and culturally compatible mental health counselling components. Keywords: cervical cancer, mental health, depression, anxiety, psychological distress, Africa