Abstract
BACKGROUND: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a critical public health challenge in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), driven by unregulated antibiotic access, self-medication and weak health systems. Community-based interventions, including education, awareness campaigns, stewardship programmes and regulatory measures, are increasingly used to address inappropriate antibiotic use, yet evidence of their effectiveness in SSA remains fragmented. This systematic review aims to identify and synthesise studies conducted between 2015 and 2025 that evaluate public health interventions in SSA community settings aimed at reducing antibiotic misuse or AMR. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: Following preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses protocols (PRISMA-P) guidelines, eligibility criteria will be structured using the patient, intervention, comparison and outcome framework. Searches will be conducted in PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science and Google Scholar. Studies published in English between 2015 and 2025 will be eligible. Two reviewers will independently conduct screening, data extraction and risk-of-bias (RoB) assessment (using Cochrane RoB V.2.0, ROBINS-I or Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) tools). ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This systematic review will synthesise evidence from previously published studies and therefore does not require formal ethical approval. The review will be conducted and reported in accordance with the methodological guidance of the JBI and the PRISMA 2020 statement for systematic reviews. The findings will be disseminated through publication in a peer-reviewed journal and presentation at national and international conferences focusing on AMR and community-based health approaches. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD420251160424.