Prevalence of intestinal parasites and Helicobacter pylori co-infection in people with gastrointestinal symptoms in Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract Background Gastrointestinal infections caused by intestinal parasites and Helicobacter pylori are significant public health issues in Africa, where poor sanitation and limited access to healthcare contribute to high disease burden. Since there was no previous pooled data regarding the intes...

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Main Authors: Yenesew Mihret Wondmagegn, Getu Girmay, Gashaw Azanaw Amare, Muluneh Assefa, Mebratu Tamir, Zufan Yiheyis Abriham, Abebaw Setegn
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-01-01
Series:BMC Infectious Diseases
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-024-10432-x
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author Yenesew Mihret Wondmagegn
Getu Girmay
Gashaw Azanaw Amare
Muluneh Assefa
Mebratu Tamir
Zufan Yiheyis Abriham
Abebaw Setegn
author_facet Yenesew Mihret Wondmagegn
Getu Girmay
Gashaw Azanaw Amare
Muluneh Assefa
Mebratu Tamir
Zufan Yiheyis Abriham
Abebaw Setegn
author_sort Yenesew Mihret Wondmagegn
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Gastrointestinal infections caused by intestinal parasites and Helicobacter pylori are significant public health issues in Africa, where poor sanitation and limited access to healthcare contribute to high disease burden. Since there was no previous pooled data regarding the intestinal parasites and Helicobacter pylori co-infections among gastrointestinal symptomatic patients in the African context, this review aimed to determine the overall prevalence of intestinal parasites and Helicobacter pylori co-infection in people with gastrointestinal symptoms in Africa. Methods The current review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) standards and registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO; CRD42024598993). A comprehensive search was conducted across electronic databases: PubMed, Medline, EMBASE, Google Scholar, Web of Science, Science Direct, and African Journals Online. The data was extracted using Microsoft Excel 2010 and analyzed using STATA version 11.0 Software. A random-effects model was used to calculate the pooled effect size of outcome variables across studies, with a 95% confidence interval. The I2 statistic was employed to assess heterogeneity. A funnel plot and Egger’s test were used to identify publication bias. A p-value < 0.05 indicated statistically significant publication bias. Results The combined prevalence of intestinal parasites and H. pylori co-infections was 31.03% (95% CI: 18.66–43.39) with significant heterogeneity (I2 = 98.9%, p = 0.000). The Subgroup analysis revealed that Egypt and Ethiopia had the highest and lowest rates of intestinal parasites and H. pylori co-infection respectively at 39.84% (95% CI: 27.79–51.88%), and 5.86% (95% CI: 4.10–7.62). Moreover, the adjusted Egger’s regression test did not reveal any publication bias (p = 0.116). Conclusion This meta-analysis shows a significant prevalence of intestinal parasites and H. pylori co-infection in Africans with gastrointestinal symptoms. The coexistence of these diseases creates diagnostic and therapeutic problems. Thus, the findings underscore need for targeted interventions and further research is needed to develop effective control strategies to reduce the impact of these illnesses on public health in Africa.
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spelling doaj-art-8112e19dd94a403187c796d770777b942025-01-05T12:09:50ZengBMCBMC Infectious Diseases1471-23342025-01-0125111010.1186/s12879-024-10432-xPrevalence of intestinal parasites and Helicobacter pylori co-infection in people with gastrointestinal symptoms in Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysisYenesew Mihret Wondmagegn0Getu Girmay1Gashaw Azanaw Amare2Muluneh Assefa3Mebratu Tamir4Zufan Yiheyis Abriham5Abebaw Setegn6Department of Medical Parasitology, School of Biomedical and Laboratory Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of GondarDepartment of Immunology and Molecular Biology, School of Biomedical and Laboratory Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of GondarDepartment of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Debre Markos UniversityDepartments of Medical Microbiology, School of Biomedical and Laboratory Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of GondarDepartment of Medical Parasitology, School of Biomedical and Laboratory Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of GondarDepartment of Medical Parasitology, School of Biomedical and Laboratory Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of GondarDepartment of Medical Parasitology, School of Biomedical and Laboratory Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of GondarAbstract Background Gastrointestinal infections caused by intestinal parasites and Helicobacter pylori are significant public health issues in Africa, where poor sanitation and limited access to healthcare contribute to high disease burden. Since there was no previous pooled data regarding the intestinal parasites and Helicobacter pylori co-infections among gastrointestinal symptomatic patients in the African context, this review aimed to determine the overall prevalence of intestinal parasites and Helicobacter pylori co-infection in people with gastrointestinal symptoms in Africa. Methods The current review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) standards and registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO; CRD42024598993). A comprehensive search was conducted across electronic databases: PubMed, Medline, EMBASE, Google Scholar, Web of Science, Science Direct, and African Journals Online. The data was extracted using Microsoft Excel 2010 and analyzed using STATA version 11.0 Software. A random-effects model was used to calculate the pooled effect size of outcome variables across studies, with a 95% confidence interval. The I2 statistic was employed to assess heterogeneity. A funnel plot and Egger’s test were used to identify publication bias. A p-value < 0.05 indicated statistically significant publication bias. Results The combined prevalence of intestinal parasites and H. pylori co-infections was 31.03% (95% CI: 18.66–43.39) with significant heterogeneity (I2 = 98.9%, p = 0.000). The Subgroup analysis revealed that Egypt and Ethiopia had the highest and lowest rates of intestinal parasites and H. pylori co-infection respectively at 39.84% (95% CI: 27.79–51.88%), and 5.86% (95% CI: 4.10–7.62). Moreover, the adjusted Egger’s regression test did not reveal any publication bias (p = 0.116). Conclusion This meta-analysis shows a significant prevalence of intestinal parasites and H. pylori co-infection in Africans with gastrointestinal symptoms. The coexistence of these diseases creates diagnostic and therapeutic problems. Thus, the findings underscore need for targeted interventions and further research is needed to develop effective control strategies to reduce the impact of these illnesses on public health in Africa.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-024-10432-xIntestinal parasitesH. PyloriCo-infectionAfrica
spellingShingle Yenesew Mihret Wondmagegn
Getu Girmay
Gashaw Azanaw Amare
Muluneh Assefa
Mebratu Tamir
Zufan Yiheyis Abriham
Abebaw Setegn
Prevalence of intestinal parasites and Helicobacter pylori co-infection in people with gastrointestinal symptoms in Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis
BMC Infectious Diseases
Intestinal parasites
H. Pylori
Co-infection
Africa
title Prevalence of intestinal parasites and Helicobacter pylori co-infection in people with gastrointestinal symptoms in Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis
title_full Prevalence of intestinal parasites and Helicobacter pylori co-infection in people with gastrointestinal symptoms in Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis
title_fullStr Prevalence of intestinal parasites and Helicobacter pylori co-infection in people with gastrointestinal symptoms in Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis
title_full_unstemmed Prevalence of intestinal parasites and Helicobacter pylori co-infection in people with gastrointestinal symptoms in Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis
title_short Prevalence of intestinal parasites and Helicobacter pylori co-infection in people with gastrointestinal symptoms in Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis
title_sort prevalence of intestinal parasites and helicobacter pylori co infection in people with gastrointestinal symptoms in africa a systematic review and meta analysis
topic Intestinal parasites
H. Pylori
Co-infection
Africa
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-024-10432-x
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