INTRODUCTION:
Access to musculoskeletal healthcare in Sub-Saharan Africa is profoundly inadequate. Osteoarthritis (OA) imposes significant socioeconomic burdens, yet remains a neglected priority in regional health agendas (1, 2). Systematizing evidence on health inequities is imperative to addressing the non-communicable disease burden in the region.

METHODS:
A scoping review was conducted following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) (3) and Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Evidence Synthesis (4) guidelines across five databases (MEDLINE (via PubMed), Embase, Scopus, African Journal Online (AJOL), and Africa Index Medicus (AIM) and gray literature. Two independent reviewers performed screening and assessment. Data extraction focused on mapping socioeconomic dimensions and healthcare barriers reported in the literature.

RESULTS:
A total of thirty-seven studies meeting the inclusion criteria were synthesized into five thematic groups: epidemiological profile; clinical disability; socioeconomic and occupational aspects; costs and social support; and barriers to access (5). Findings were heavily concentrated on functional disability and knee OA. Conversely, quantitative evidence regarding productivity loss, retirement, and the specific challenges faced by rural populations remained scarce. Interpretation: The results reveal a critical imbalance: while functional disability is well-documented, the economic burden and rural specificities are persistently under-researched. This gap hinders the development of evidence-based policies. Addressing these inequities is essential for fostering equitable healthcare strategies and mitigating the impact of musculoskeletal disorders in Sub-Saharan Africa.