It is estimated that approximately one-quarter of the global population is infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB), with a risk of progressing to active tuberculosis (TB), thereby sustaining disease transmission and challenging global efforts to end TB as a public health problem [1, 2]. Among the most affected continents, Africa remains a major epicenter of the TB epidemic, accounting for approximately 25% of all newly diagnosed TB cases worldwide, equivalent to 2.5 million cases in 2022. In the same year, the continent accounted for 33% of global TB-related deaths, corresponding to approximately 424,000 deaths [3].

In 2023, Angola reported an estimated TB incidence rate of 325 cases per 100,000 population, with the disease predominantly affecting younger age groups, particularly individuals aged 15–44 years [4]. Several studies have highlighted the persistent and concerning TB burden in the country [5, 6, 7]. However, the available evidence presents important limitations at three levels: (1) empirical gap: the absence of a comprehensive synthesis of strategies, challenges, and potentialities across the TB care continuum in Angola; (2) system-level gap: the lack of integrated analysis linking surveillance, healthcare delivery, and outcomes; and (3) contextual gap: limited evidence from fragile health systems in high TB burden-settings, where structural constraints, social determinants, and health system vulnerabilities shape TB control efforts.

From a health systems perspective [8], this situation reflects not only the magnitude of the TB burden in Angola, but also the limited capacity to prevent disease, ensure early detection, provide timely diagnosis, maintain continuity of care, and deliver effective treatment support and follow-up. These challenges are closely related to structural and operational constraints, including insufficient financing, limited management capacity, weaknesses in surveillance systems, and shortages of essential supplies and human resources. TB outcomes are shaped by the interaction between the pathogen, individual vulnerability, and social conditions, all of which are influenced by how health systems organize, deliver, and sustain care across the continuum over time [9].

Tuberculosis care requires comprehensive approaches that address the multiple stages of the care continuum, including diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation, and long-term follow-up. These approaches depend on coordinated actions among healthcare providers and services to ensure timely access, continuity of care, and improved treatment outcomes. In this context, Primary Health Care (PHC) plays a central role in coordinating TB-related actions across the health system, linking prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up services with broader social support networks. This integrated approach is essential to address the social determinants that influence TB vulnerability, access to care, and treatment outcomes [10, 11].

Therefore, understanding comprehensive TB care is essential to identify health system gaps, characterize implementation challenges, and recognize opportunities to strengthen the response to TB, particularly in alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the 2030 Agenda, and the World Health Organization (WHO) End TB Strategy [12]. This strategy aims to reduce TB deaths by 90% and new TB cases by 80% by 2030 [13], supported by three key pillars: integrated, patient-centred care and prevention; bold policies and supportive systems; and intensified research and innovation [9]. Achieving these targets requires effective coordination and sustained performance of health systems across the TB care continuum, particularly in high-burden settings where structural and operational barriers may compromise access to prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up.

A literature search was conducted in review registries (PROSPERO and OSF Registries) and PubMed, and no ongoing or published reviews specifically addressing comprehensive TB care in Angola were identified. Therefore, this scoping review aimed to identify the actions developed, challenges, and opportunities for strengthening comprehensive TB care for people with TB in Angola. By synthesizing available evidence across the continuum of care, this review seeks to provide insights into health system gaps and potential strategies to support the development of policies and interventions for TB control in the country.

This study followed the methodological guidance provided by the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Manual for Scoping Reviews [14] and the recommendations of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) [15]. The review protocol was registered in the Open Science Framework (OSF) Registries with the DOI: 10.17605/OSF.IO/G5X9C.

A total of 564 publications were identified. Of these, 219 were excluded due to duplication, 317 were excluded after title and abstract screening, and 15 were excluded following full-text assessment. Consequently, 13 studies were included in the review (Figure 1).

The total number of participants across the included studies was 24,652, comprising adults and children under 5 years of age. The study population included index TB cases, people with TB/HIV co-infection, and health professionals. The included studies comprised descriptive designs (39%; n = 3), cross-sectional studies (26%; n = 2), retrospective studies (26%; n = 2), qualitative studies (26%; n = 2), and other designs (52%; n = 4) (Tables 1 and 2).

Five themes emerged from the thematic analysis. The first theme highlighted the role of prevention and diagnostic capacity as essential components of comprehensive TB care in Angola. This category included interventions such as BCG vaccination and monitoring of its implementation [19, 20]; contact tracing [21, 22]; systematic screening of children and other vulnerable groups [21, 22, 23]; the use of combined diagnostic approaches, including clinical assessment, tuberculin skin testing, chest radiography, sputum smear microscopy, and molecular rapid tests [6, 21, 23, 24]; and strengthening of diagnostic capacity through drug susceptibility testing and HIV testing [21, 23, 24, 25]. However, the implementation of these strategies was challenged by low adherence to contact tracing activities [21] and insufficient coverage of diagnostic testing [26].

The second theme, “Continuity of care and treatment support as dimensions of comprehensive care,” highlighted that, despite advances in access to diagnosis and treatment initiation, maintaining continuity of care remains a major challenge for TB control in Angola. The findings indicate that treatment adherence and retention in care depend not only on the availability of medicines but also on sustained support throughout the treatment pathway. Strategies identified across the included studies included the implementation of DOTS [26] and community-based follow-up [21]; active retrieval of patients lost to follow-up [20, 26] and follow-up visits [20, 21]; counselling and multidisciplinary care [27]; provision of incentives, such as food baskets and nutritional support [27, 28]; and free access of medicines [6, 27].

Despite these efforts, the included studies identified persistent barriers affecting treatment retention and continuity of care. These barriers involved both health system limitations and social determinants, including the absence of structured strategies for retrieving patients lost to follow-up [27]; limited digital literacy among healthcare professionals for the use of electronic medical records [29]; stigma and discrimination [27]; and food insecurity and discontinuation of social support interventions [27, 28].

The third theme, “Structural and organizational barriers to comprehensive TB care”, highlighted how health system limitations constrain the implementation and sustainability of TB control strategies in Angola. The identified barriers reflected interconnected challenges involving supply chains, service organization, health information systems, workforce capacity, and surveillance structures. These included drug stockouts [21, 26]; insufficient diagnostic supplies and materials [26, 27]; the absence of guidelines for the diagnosis and management of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) [22]; inadequate laboratory infrastructure, insufficient human resources, and limited professional training [5, 22].

Additionally, the lack of electronic medical records, combined with electricity and internet connectivity constraints, hindered the implementation of health information systems [29]. Gaps in epidemiological surveillance, underreporting of cases [25], limited availability of treatment outcome data [26]; and treatment initiation without bacteriological confirmation [6] further demonstrated weaknesses in the capacity of the health system to ensure comprehensive TB care.

The fourth theme, “Addressing social determinants of health to achieve comprehensive TB care”, highlighted that TB control efforts in Angola occur within a context of social vulnerability, health inequities, territorial disparities, and periods of crisis that influence access to and continuity of care. The findings indicate that factors beyond healthcare delivery contribute to TB-related vulnerabilities and may limit the effectiveness of comprehensive care strategies. Identified challenges included limited awareness of the availability of free health services [20]; stigma and discrimination [27]; food insecurity [6]; armed conflicts [26]; and the COVID-19 pandemic [21].

The last theme, “Community-based strategies, access facilitation, social support, and health information sharing as drivers of comprehensive TB care”, highlighted existing programmatic and operational strengths that support TB care delivery in Angola. The findings demonstrated the contribution of community-based approaches and patient support mechanisms to improving access, follow-up, and continuity of care.

Key strategies included the involvement of community health workers (CHWs) in case follow-up [21, 26], community-based contact tracing [21], free access to diagnostic tests [6, 21], clinical evaluation, and medicines [23, 24, 27], the use of gastric lavage samples to improve TB diagnosis among children [21, 23], expansion of medical teams and service availability [21, 26], multidisciplinary care and counselling [27], nutritional and food support [26, 28], health worker commitment and engagement [26] and implementation of electronic medical records [29]. However, despite these advances, greater involvement of community leaders in policy-making processes remains an important area for strengthening comprehensive TB care [20].

This scoping review mapped and synthesized the available evidence on comprehensive TB care in Angola, providing an integrated overview of the strategies implemented, as well as the barriers and opportunities influencing TB care delivery. The findings indicate that, despite important advances in TB surveillance and care over the past two decades, persistent structural, organizational, and social challenges continue to compromise the delivery of comprehensive, patient-centred care and limit progress toward the global TB control targets.

Regarding TB prevention, two studies reported the use of BCG vaccination in Angola [19, 20] reinforcing its continued importance in preventing severe forms of TB during early childhood. One study [20], highlighted that, despite the vaccine being provided free of charge, barriers to access remain, underscoring the need for public awareness initiatives and organizational improvements to expand vaccination coverage.

Other preventive actions implemented in the Angolan context include the use of the tuberculin skin test (TST) [24] to identify TB infection and isoniazid preventive treatment [21, 25, 26]. These findings suggest limited implementation of current recommendations for the diagnosis and treatment of latent TB infection (LTBI), as interferon-gamma release assays (IGRA) are now available and offer greater specificity than the TST, alongside shorter preventive treatment regimens such as 3HP, 3RH, and 4R [30, 31].

Considering that treatment TB infection is widely recognized as a key public health strategy to prevent new MTB infections and progression to active disease [21]. Therefore, Angola should establish or update national guidelines and strengthen the capacity of health professionals to implement LTBI diagnosis and treatment. In addition, efforts should focus on expanding screening infection among contacts of index cases, people living with HIV, and individuals with other immunosuppressive conditionsHealth education and counseling interventions are also needed to encourage contact participation in screening and treatment while reducing stigma, discrimination, and misconceptions related to TB the disease and its comorbidities [27].

The expansion of TB diagnostic capacity in Angola reflects important progress toward comprehensive TB care by promoting early case detection and timely diagnosis. Studies included in this review reported the implementation of clinical evaluation, chest radiography, sputum smear microscopy, rapid molecular testing (GeneXpert MTB/RIF), culture, drug susceptibility testing, and assessment for coinfections [6, 21, 23, 25, 27]. Together, these strategies contribute to strengthening TB control in line with the End TB Strategy.

Despite these advances, important implementation barriers remain. The included studies reported interruptions in the availability of free diagnostic testing [21], shortages of diagnostic supplies, difficulties in communicating or obtaining test results, particularly from private services, and diagnostic challenges in specific populations, such as children, who may require procedures such as gastric lavage [21, 27, 29]. These findings indicate that expanding diagnostic technologies alone is insufficient without strengthening laboratory capacity, service organization, and equitable access to diagnostic services.

Pharmacological treatment for TB is provided free within the Angolan health system [21, 23, 26, 27]. However, interruptions in treatment continuity remain frequent [21, 26], contributing to high rates of loss to follow-up. This challenge is compounded by difficulties actively tracing patients who miss scheduled appointments, and by the absence of computerized systems to support treatment monitoring. In addition, structural barriers affecting access, continuity, and coordination of care, together with social vulnerabilities, food insecurity, stigma, and discrimination, further compromise treatment adherence and the delivery of comprehensive TB care.

Recent WHO guidelines emphasize that the goals of the End TB Strategy can only be achieved when TB diagnosis, treatment, and prevention are integrated within the context of universal health coverage [8]. Angola has not yet fully achieved this standard, highlighting the need to expand and strengthen TB services through adequately equipped health facilities, reliable supply chains, and improved access to care across municipalities, communities, and rural areas.

Angola reports high proportions of unknown treatment outcomes and loss to follow-up [26], highlighting weaknesses in treatment monitoring and continuity of care. Strengthening active patient tracing, DOT implementation, and mechanisms for information sharing across health services are essential to improve follow-up, particularly through the use of electronic health records. However, implementation of these systems remains challenging due to high costs, unreliable electricity and internet connectivity, limited digital literacy, insufficient computerization of health facilities [29, 32].

A study conducted in Brazil [33] demonstrated that patient medical records are essential tools for information sharing among healthcare professionals and for coordinating TB care. Therefore, the absence of electronic health records in Angola may limit the communication between services, weaken care coordination, and hinder the delivery of comprehensive TB care. The implementation DOT strategy differs across Angolan provinces, available evidence suggests that this approach may not have been fully implemented nationwide, potentially contributing to the high rates of loss to follow-up previously described. Evidence from southwestern Iran demonstrated that DOTS can contribute to substantial improvements in the TB situation of low-income settings through a cost-effective and sustainable approach, reducing mortality, prevalence, incidence of new cases, and drug resistance [34]. However, DOT implementation should be adapted to local contexts and health system capacities. Different models, including home-based strategies supported by community health workers [26], facility-based approaches, and digitally supported follow-up, may be considered according to available resources and operational feasibility.

A study conducted in Índia highlighted that TB is not solely a biomedical and public health issue, but also a socially determined disease. The persistence of poverty and social inequalities continues to influence TB vulnerability and outcomes. Therefore, effective TB control requires multiprofessional and intersectoral interventions alongside strengthened public policies addressing food insecurity, poverty, and educational inequalities [35]. These findings are particularly relevant for Angola, where social vulnerabilities and structural barriers remain important challenges for achieving comprehensive TB care.

In this context, comprehensive care requires addressing the socioeconomic, geographic, and cultural factors that influence the health–disease process, as well as developing responses that extend beyond the traditional boundaries of healthcare services. TB interventions are more likely to be effective when strategies and policies are adapted to the local context and respond to existing territorial and social inequalities. This perspective is particularly relevant in Angola where challenges such as stigma, food insecurity, and limited health literacy require intersectoral approaches rather than healthcare-based interventions alone.

Community-based interventions identified in the included studies contribute to improving treatment adherence and mitigating social and economic factors that exacerbate the TB epidemic [27, 35]. Strengthening TB control efforts requires coordinated actions involving health services, social assistance, education, and food security, as well as policies that address prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and psychosocial support. Empowering community actors through advocacy and social mobilization is essential to increase awareness promote shared responsibility, and strengthen social participation in TB control. Effective responses at the territorial level dependon coordinated action and collaboration among multiple stakeholders.

The identified strengths indicate actionable opportunities to enhance comprehensive TB care in Angola. A common characteristic of these strengths is their potential to bring health systems closer to the realities experienced by people with TB through community-based approaches, improved access to diagnosis, multidisciplinary care, and responses tailored to patients’ needs. These findings suggest that strengthening TB programmes does not necessarily depend on advanced technological solutions, but rather on feasible, context-adapted, and sustainable organizational strategies capable of improving care delivery within local health systems.

One of the studies included in this review, conducted in Angola and other countries [22], highlighted differences in LTBI management across settings. Compared with Brazil, Lesotho, Mozambique, Russia, and Zambia, Angola lacked national guidelines for LTBI management and remained focused mainly on the treatment of active TB disease. Similar to Kenya and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, financial barriers limited the implementation of LTBI strategies. Additionally, TST and IGRAs were not incorporated into routine practice within the National TB Control Programme, with TST available only in selected provinces. These findings indicate that expanding TB preventive treatment remains an important challenge for Angola and requires alignment with global recommendations to reduce progression to active TB and achieve End TB Strategy targets.

In relation to the treatment and follow-up of people with active TB, no comparative studies involving Angola and other countries were identified in this review, highlighting an important gap in the scientific literature. Therefore, a comprehensive understanding of TB epidemiology in Angola, considering its political, social, and health system context, is essential to inform the adaptation and strengthening of effective TB control strategies. These strategies should integrate prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and continuity of care to contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and the WHO targets for End TB as a public health problem [2].

Importantly, the TB response in Angola depends not only on the availability of technically recommended interventions, but also on the health system’s capacity to ensure their continuity, accessibility, local adaptation, and sustainability. By synthesizing the available evidence, this review addresses an empirical gap by providing the first comprehensive overview of TB care actions in Angola, a system-level gap by linking surveillance, health system capacity, and care delivery, and a contextual gap by generating context-specific evidence from a high-burden and resource-constrained setting.

This study has several limitations. First, despite the structured search strategy based on controlled vocabulary and free-text terms, the possibility of missing relevant studies cannot be excluded, which may have limited the breadth of the evidence identified. Second, although study selection was independently conducted by reviewers, inter-rater agreement was not assessed using Cohen’s kappa statistic, which may have introduced some degree of subjectivity into the selection process. Finally, in accordance with the scoping review methodology and considering the descriptive nature of the synthesis and the methodological heterogeneity among the 13 included studies, methodological quality appraisal was not performed. Therefore, the strength and certainty of the available evidence should be interpreted with caution.

Additionally, publication bias may have influenced the evidence identified, as studies with negative or inconclusive findings are less likely to be published. Regarding grey literature, the search was conducted exclusively through Google Scholar; therefore, the absence of additional sources, such as government reports, technical documents, and unpublished data, may have limited the identification of ongoing interventions and undocumented challenges within the TB response. Finally, the exclusive focus on Angola limits the transferability of findings to other African countries with different epidemiological and health system contexts.

Based on the findings of this review, future TB control efforts in Angola should prioritize the expansion and decentralization of TB services, particularly in underserved rural areas. The integration of digital health technologies, improved access to rapid diagnostic tools, and strengthened community-based strategies may contribute to improving treatment adherence, early diagnosis, and continuity of care. These actions should be accompanied by investments in health professional training, community health workers, reliable supply chains, and intersectoral policies addressing social determinants of TB. Generating locally relevant evidence through operational research will also be essential to guide sustainable and context-adapted models of comprehensive TB care.

In conclusion, this study highlights important advances in important advances in comprehensive TB care in Angola over the past two decades. However, persistent structural, organizational, and socioeconomic challenges continue to limit progress, including gaps in contact tracing, interruptions in diagnostic testing and drug supply, and loss to follow-up. Strengthening TB control requires integrated policies focused on health workforce training, expanded access to rapid diagnostic tools, decentralized service delivery, community engagement, and robust surveillance systems. Community-based strategies, including DOT and active case finding, represent important opportunities to improve access, reduce barriers, and enhance continuity of care, particularly in underserved areas. These actions are essential to support Angola’s progress toward the WHO End TB Strategy targets and contribute to ending TB as a public health problem.