Barriers and Enablers to Health-Seeking for People Affected by Severe Stigmatising Skin Diseases (SSSDs): A Scoping Review

People affected by severe stigmatising skin diseases (SSSDs) often live in the poorest communities, within countries, and experience a range of barriers to seeking timely, quality care. This scoping review analyses available literature on health-seeking for patients SSSDs, identify enablers health-seeking. We searched MEDLINE complete, CINAHL, Global Health databases suitable articles published between 2010 2020. Search strings were compiled health-seeking, SSSDs lower middle-income countries (LMIC). Our search returned 1004 studies from across three databases. Of these, 136 potentially relevant identified full texts reviewed eligibility against inclusion criteria, leading 55 studies. Thematic narrative analysis was used, with results framed around Levesque framework analyse along continuum patient pathway. has revealed pathway, both supply demand aspects health services. Spiritual beliefs emerged strongly relating care-seeking underlying stigma. Curative care focus majority studies, but few papers emphasised holistic (such as physical rehabilitation psychosocial support). From our analysis, greater community engagement is needed reduce patient-care