Implementation Science and Kidney Health Equity in Africa: Addressing Infection-Related AKI, Diagnostic Gaps, and Outcomes in Resource-Limited Settings

Kidney health is an increasingly recognized public health priority in Africa. Despite the growing burden of acute kidney injury (AKI), particularly infection-related AKI, substantial gaps persist in timely diagnosis, evidence-based management, and preventive care across many resource-limited settings. The burden of infection-related AKI disproportionately affects vulnerable populations and is driven by structural inequalities, fragmented healthcare systems, limited diagnostic infrastructure, and workforce shortages. Implementation science offers important opportunities to identify, adapt, and scale contextually relevant interventions; however, evidence on effective and sustainable strategies across diverse African healthcare settings remains limited. These ongoing challenges underscore the urgent need for rigorous research capable of informing policy, strengthening health systems, and improving equitable kidney care delivery across the continent.This Research Topic aims to advance kidney health equity in Africa by leveraging implementation science approaches to address the unique challenges affecting kidney care in resource-limited settings. We seek to highlight effective strategies for reducing the incidence and severity of infection-related AKI, strengthening renal diagnostic capacity, and improving patient outcomes across diverse healthcare environments. Particular emphasis will be placed on scalable models of integrated care, technology-enabled and point-of-care diagnostic innovations, health systems strengthening, workforce development, and interventions that address both system-level and community-level barriers to equitable kidney healthcare.This Research Topic focuses on the development, evaluation, and implementation of innovative, evidence-based strategies tailored to the African context, with a primary emphasis on infection-related AKI and renal diagnostics in low-resource settings. Submissions should align with practical, ethical, and culturally relevant considerations and may include original research, reviews, implementation studies, policy analyses, and perspective articles.To further advance discussions on kidney health equity in Africa, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:• Implementation of science approaches for scaling up AKI prevention and management programs• Advances in low-cost, technology-enabled, or point-of-care renal diagnostics• Health systems strengthening interventions to improve access, workforce capacity, and continuity of care• Community engagement and culturally tailored kidney health promotion strategies• Integration of kidney care within infectious disease prevention and control programs• Policy, financing, and advocacy initiatives aimed at reducing kidney health disparities in Africa Topic editors: Chukwuka Elendu, Robert Kalyesubula Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/86465/implementation-science-and-kidney-health-equity-in-africa-addressing-infection-related-aki-diagnostic-gaps-and-outcomes-in-resource-limited-settings