Aetiology of vaginal discharge, urethral discharge, and genital ulcer in sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review and meta-regression.
<h4>Background</h4>Syndromic management is widely used to treat symptomatic sexually transmitted infections in settings without aetiologic diagnostics. However, underlying aetiologies and consequent treatment suitability are uncertain without regular assessment. This systematic review es...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
2024-05-01
|
| Series: | PLoS Medicine |
| Online Access: | https://journals.plos.org/plosmedicine/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pmed.1004385&type=printable |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1832592747911970816 |
|---|---|
| author | Julia Michalow Magdalene K Walters Olanrewaju Edun Max Wybrant Bethan Davies Tendesayi Kufa Thabitha Mathega Sungai T Chabata Frances M Cowan Anne Cori Marie-Claude Boily Jeffrey W Imai-Eaton |
| author_facet | Julia Michalow Magdalene K Walters Olanrewaju Edun Max Wybrant Bethan Davies Tendesayi Kufa Thabitha Mathega Sungai T Chabata Frances M Cowan Anne Cori Marie-Claude Boily Jeffrey W Imai-Eaton |
| author_sort | Julia Michalow |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <h4>Background</h4>Syndromic management is widely used to treat symptomatic sexually transmitted infections in settings without aetiologic diagnostics. However, underlying aetiologies and consequent treatment suitability are uncertain without regular assessment. This systematic review estimated the distribution, trends, and determinants of aetiologies for vaginal discharge, urethral discharge, and genital ulcer in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA).<h4>Methods and findings</h4>We searched Embase, MEDLINE, Global Health, Web of Science, and grey literature from inception until December 20, 2023, for observational studies reporting aetiologic diagnoses among symptomatic populations in SSA. We adjusted observations for diagnostic test performance, used generalised linear mixed-effects meta-regressions to generate estimates, and critically appraised studies using an adapted Joanna Briggs Institute checklist. Of 4,418 identified records, 206 reports were included from 190 studies in 32 countries conducted between 1969 and 2022. In 2015, estimated primary aetiologies for vaginal discharge were candidiasis (69.4% [95% confidence interval (CI): 44.3% to 86.6%], n = 50), bacterial vaginosis (50.0% [95% CI: 32.3% to 67.8%], n = 39), chlamydia (16.2% [95% CI: 8.6% to 28.5%], n = 50), and trichomoniasis (12.9% [95% CI: 7.7% to 20.7%], n = 80); for urethral discharge were gonorrhoea (77.1% [95% CI: 68.1% to 84.1%], n = 68) and chlamydia (21.9% [95% CI: 15.4% to 30.3%], n = 48); and for genital ulcer were herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) (48.3% [95% CI: 32.9% to 64.1%], n = 47) and syphilis (9.3% [95% CI: 6.4% to 13.4%], n = 117). Temporal variation was substantial, particularly for genital ulcer where HSV-2 replaced chancroid as the primary cause. Aetiologic distributions for each symptom were largely the same across regions and population strata, despite HIV status and age being significantly associated with several infection diagnoses. Limitations of the review include the absence of studies in 16 of 48 SSA countries, substantial heterogeneity in study observations, and impeded assessment of this variability due to incomplete or inconsistent reporting across studies.<h4>Conclusions</h4>In our study, syndrome aetiologies in SSA aligned with World Health Organization guidelines without strong evidence of geographic or demographic variation, supporting broad guideline applicability. Temporal changes underscore the importance of regular aetiologic re-assessment for effective syndromic management.<h4>Prospero number</h4>CRD42022348045. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-c705ea81c8d6483caa32b9fceb3bf1d7 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1549-1277 1549-1676 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-05-01 |
| publisher | Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | PLoS Medicine |
| spelling | doaj-art-c705ea81c8d6483caa32b9fceb3bf1d72025-01-21T05:30:45ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS Medicine1549-12771549-16762024-05-01215e100438510.1371/journal.pmed.1004385Aetiology of vaginal discharge, urethral discharge, and genital ulcer in sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review and meta-regression.Julia MichalowMagdalene K WaltersOlanrewaju EdunMax WybrantBethan DaviesTendesayi KufaThabitha MathegaSungai T ChabataFrances M CowanAnne CoriMarie-Claude BoilyJeffrey W Imai-Eaton<h4>Background</h4>Syndromic management is widely used to treat symptomatic sexually transmitted infections in settings without aetiologic diagnostics. However, underlying aetiologies and consequent treatment suitability are uncertain without regular assessment. This systematic review estimated the distribution, trends, and determinants of aetiologies for vaginal discharge, urethral discharge, and genital ulcer in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA).<h4>Methods and findings</h4>We searched Embase, MEDLINE, Global Health, Web of Science, and grey literature from inception until December 20, 2023, for observational studies reporting aetiologic diagnoses among symptomatic populations in SSA. We adjusted observations for diagnostic test performance, used generalised linear mixed-effects meta-regressions to generate estimates, and critically appraised studies using an adapted Joanna Briggs Institute checklist. Of 4,418 identified records, 206 reports were included from 190 studies in 32 countries conducted between 1969 and 2022. In 2015, estimated primary aetiologies for vaginal discharge were candidiasis (69.4% [95% confidence interval (CI): 44.3% to 86.6%], n = 50), bacterial vaginosis (50.0% [95% CI: 32.3% to 67.8%], n = 39), chlamydia (16.2% [95% CI: 8.6% to 28.5%], n = 50), and trichomoniasis (12.9% [95% CI: 7.7% to 20.7%], n = 80); for urethral discharge were gonorrhoea (77.1% [95% CI: 68.1% to 84.1%], n = 68) and chlamydia (21.9% [95% CI: 15.4% to 30.3%], n = 48); and for genital ulcer were herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) (48.3% [95% CI: 32.9% to 64.1%], n = 47) and syphilis (9.3% [95% CI: 6.4% to 13.4%], n = 117). Temporal variation was substantial, particularly for genital ulcer where HSV-2 replaced chancroid as the primary cause. Aetiologic distributions for each symptom were largely the same across regions and population strata, despite HIV status and age being significantly associated with several infection diagnoses. Limitations of the review include the absence of studies in 16 of 48 SSA countries, substantial heterogeneity in study observations, and impeded assessment of this variability due to incomplete or inconsistent reporting across studies.<h4>Conclusions</h4>In our study, syndrome aetiologies in SSA aligned with World Health Organization guidelines without strong evidence of geographic or demographic variation, supporting broad guideline applicability. Temporal changes underscore the importance of regular aetiologic re-assessment for effective syndromic management.<h4>Prospero number</h4>CRD42022348045.https://journals.plos.org/plosmedicine/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pmed.1004385&type=printable |
| spellingShingle | Julia Michalow Magdalene K Walters Olanrewaju Edun Max Wybrant Bethan Davies Tendesayi Kufa Thabitha Mathega Sungai T Chabata Frances M Cowan Anne Cori Marie-Claude Boily Jeffrey W Imai-Eaton Aetiology of vaginal discharge, urethral discharge, and genital ulcer in sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review and meta-regression. PLoS Medicine |
| title | Aetiology of vaginal discharge, urethral discharge, and genital ulcer in sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review and meta-regression. |
| title_full | Aetiology of vaginal discharge, urethral discharge, and genital ulcer in sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review and meta-regression. |
| title_fullStr | Aetiology of vaginal discharge, urethral discharge, and genital ulcer in sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review and meta-regression. |
| title_full_unstemmed | Aetiology of vaginal discharge, urethral discharge, and genital ulcer in sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review and meta-regression. |
| title_short | Aetiology of vaginal discharge, urethral discharge, and genital ulcer in sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review and meta-regression. |
| title_sort | aetiology of vaginal discharge urethral discharge and genital ulcer in sub saharan africa a systematic review and meta regression |
| url | https://journals.plos.org/plosmedicine/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pmed.1004385&type=printable |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT juliamichalow aetiologyofvaginaldischargeurethraldischargeandgenitalulcerinsubsaharanafricaasystematicreviewandmetaregression AT magdalenekwalters aetiologyofvaginaldischargeurethraldischargeandgenitalulcerinsubsaharanafricaasystematicreviewandmetaregression AT olanrewajuedun aetiologyofvaginaldischargeurethraldischargeandgenitalulcerinsubsaharanafricaasystematicreviewandmetaregression AT maxwybrant aetiologyofvaginaldischargeurethraldischargeandgenitalulcerinsubsaharanafricaasystematicreviewandmetaregression AT bethandavies aetiologyofvaginaldischargeurethraldischargeandgenitalulcerinsubsaharanafricaasystematicreviewandmetaregression AT tendesayikufa aetiologyofvaginaldischargeurethraldischargeandgenitalulcerinsubsaharanafricaasystematicreviewandmetaregression AT thabithamathega aetiologyofvaginaldischargeurethraldischargeandgenitalulcerinsubsaharanafricaasystematicreviewandmetaregression AT sungaitchabata aetiologyofvaginaldischargeurethraldischargeandgenitalulcerinsubsaharanafricaasystematicreviewandmetaregression AT francesmcowan aetiologyofvaginaldischargeurethraldischargeandgenitalulcerinsubsaharanafricaasystematicreviewandmetaregression AT annecori aetiologyofvaginaldischargeurethraldischargeandgenitalulcerinsubsaharanafricaasystematicreviewandmetaregression AT marieclaudeboily aetiologyofvaginaldischargeurethraldischargeandgenitalulcerinsubsaharanafricaasystematicreviewandmetaregression AT jeffreywimaieaton aetiologyofvaginaldischargeurethraldischargeandgenitalulcerinsubsaharanafricaasystematicreviewandmetaregression |