Prevalence and associated factors of active trachoma among children of 1 to 9 years in low-income countries of Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis
BackgroundActive trachoma is a form of infectious eye disease caused by Chlamydia trachomatis. An estimated 84 million individuals worldwide, primarily children, are affected by active trachoma. Therefore, this systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to determine the pooled prevalence and predicto...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-08-01
|
| Series: | Frontiers in Public Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1478001/full |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849396038701416448 |
|---|---|
| author | Leykun Berhanu Gete Berihun Belay Desye Abebe Kassa Geto Chala Daba |
| author_facet | Leykun Berhanu Gete Berihun Belay Desye Abebe Kassa Geto Chala Daba |
| author_sort | Leykun Berhanu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | BackgroundActive trachoma is a form of infectious eye disease caused by Chlamydia trachomatis. An estimated 84 million individuals worldwide, primarily children, are affected by active trachoma. Therefore, this systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to determine the pooled prevalence and predictors of active trachoma among children aged 1 to 9 years in low-income countries of Africa.MethodsRelevant literature was searched from electronic databases. The data was extracted using an Excel sheet and exported to STATA version 17 software. The levels of heterogeneity among studies were assessed using I2 and p-values. The findings were presented using a table, graph, and forest plot with a 95% confidence interval. A p-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.ResultAmong 2,665 studies searched, 25 were selected for meta-analysis. The pooled prevalence of active trachoma was 21.93% (95% CI; 16.67, 27.20). Presence of fly on child’s face (POR: 2.43: 95% CI; 1.63, 3.24), absence of waste disposal pit (POR: 2.10: 95% CI; 1.36, 2.84), living in rural areas (POR: 0.68: 95% CI; 0.43, 0.93), being female (POR: 1.57: 95% CI; 1.07, 2.07), presence of discharge on the child’s eye (POR: 3.03; 95% CI: 2.20, 3.86), absence of latrine (POR: 1.28: 95% CI; 1.05, 1.50), inadequate knowledge of trachoma (POR: 2.84: 95% CI; 1.69, 3.99), educational status of the child (POR: 0.51: 95% CI; 0.20, 0.81), water consumption (POR: 0.22: 95% CI; 0.04, 0.39), living with animals (POR: 3.35: 95% CI; 2.41, 4.29), latrine utilization (POR: 8.18: 95% CI; 2.16, 14.20), proper latrine utilization (POR: 2.85: 95% CI; 1.84, 3.86), and unclean child face (POR: 0.09: 95% CI; −0.00, 0.19) were the factors significantly associated with the pooled prevalence of active trachoma.ConclusionThe prevalence of active trachoma among children aged 1 to 9 years is high compared to the World Health Organization trachoma eradication plan. As a result, it is recommended to use latrines and incorporate trachoma awareness into school curricula and community outreach initiatives. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e12efca3df534ced99019178eebbd6ec |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2296-2565 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Public Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-e12efca3df534ced99019178eebbd6ec2025-08-20T03:39:26ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Public Health2296-25652025-08-011310.3389/fpubh.2025.14780011478001Prevalence and associated factors of active trachoma among children of 1 to 9 years in low-income countries of Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysisLeykun Berhanu0Gete Berihun1Belay Desye2Abebe Kassa Geto3Chala Daba4Department of Environmental Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Wollo University, Dessie, EthiopiaDepartment of Environmental Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Debre Markos University, Debre Markos, EthiopiaDepartment of Environmental Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Wollo University, Dessie, EthiopiaDepartment of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Woldia University, Woldia, EthiopiaDepartment of Environmental Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Wollo University, Dessie, EthiopiaBackgroundActive trachoma is a form of infectious eye disease caused by Chlamydia trachomatis. An estimated 84 million individuals worldwide, primarily children, are affected by active trachoma. Therefore, this systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to determine the pooled prevalence and predictors of active trachoma among children aged 1 to 9 years in low-income countries of Africa.MethodsRelevant literature was searched from electronic databases. The data was extracted using an Excel sheet and exported to STATA version 17 software. The levels of heterogeneity among studies were assessed using I2 and p-values. The findings were presented using a table, graph, and forest plot with a 95% confidence interval. A p-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.ResultAmong 2,665 studies searched, 25 were selected for meta-analysis. The pooled prevalence of active trachoma was 21.93% (95% CI; 16.67, 27.20). Presence of fly on child’s face (POR: 2.43: 95% CI; 1.63, 3.24), absence of waste disposal pit (POR: 2.10: 95% CI; 1.36, 2.84), living in rural areas (POR: 0.68: 95% CI; 0.43, 0.93), being female (POR: 1.57: 95% CI; 1.07, 2.07), presence of discharge on the child’s eye (POR: 3.03; 95% CI: 2.20, 3.86), absence of latrine (POR: 1.28: 95% CI; 1.05, 1.50), inadequate knowledge of trachoma (POR: 2.84: 95% CI; 1.69, 3.99), educational status of the child (POR: 0.51: 95% CI; 0.20, 0.81), water consumption (POR: 0.22: 95% CI; 0.04, 0.39), living with animals (POR: 3.35: 95% CI; 2.41, 4.29), latrine utilization (POR: 8.18: 95% CI; 2.16, 14.20), proper latrine utilization (POR: 2.85: 95% CI; 1.84, 3.86), and unclean child face (POR: 0.09: 95% CI; −0.00, 0.19) were the factors significantly associated with the pooled prevalence of active trachoma.ConclusionThe prevalence of active trachoma among children aged 1 to 9 years is high compared to the World Health Organization trachoma eradication plan. As a result, it is recommended to use latrines and incorporate trachoma awareness into school curricula and community outreach initiatives.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1478001/fullactive trachomaAfricalow-incomechildren 1 to 9 yearssurgeryantibiotics |
| spellingShingle | Leykun Berhanu Gete Berihun Belay Desye Abebe Kassa Geto Chala Daba Prevalence and associated factors of active trachoma among children of 1 to 9 years in low-income countries of Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis Frontiers in Public Health active trachoma Africa low-income children 1 to 9 years surgery antibiotics |
| title | Prevalence and associated factors of active trachoma among children of 1 to 9 years in low-income countries of Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis |
| title_full | Prevalence and associated factors of active trachoma among children of 1 to 9 years in low-income countries of Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis |
| title_fullStr | Prevalence and associated factors of active trachoma among children of 1 to 9 years in low-income countries of Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Prevalence and associated factors of active trachoma among children of 1 to 9 years in low-income countries of Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis |
| title_short | Prevalence and associated factors of active trachoma among children of 1 to 9 years in low-income countries of Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis |
| title_sort | prevalence and associated factors of active trachoma among children of 1 to 9 years in low income countries of africa a systematic review and meta analysis |
| topic | active trachoma Africa low-income children 1 to 9 years surgery antibiotics |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1478001/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT leykunberhanu prevalenceandassociatedfactorsofactivetrachomaamongchildrenof1to9yearsinlowincomecountriesofafricaasystematicreviewandmetaanalysis AT geteberihun prevalenceandassociatedfactorsofactivetrachomaamongchildrenof1to9yearsinlowincomecountriesofafricaasystematicreviewandmetaanalysis AT belaydesye prevalenceandassociatedfactorsofactivetrachomaamongchildrenof1to9yearsinlowincomecountriesofafricaasystematicreviewandmetaanalysis AT abebekassageto prevalenceandassociatedfactorsofactivetrachomaamongchildrenof1to9yearsinlowincomecountriesofafricaasystematicreviewandmetaanalysis AT chaladaba prevalenceandassociatedfactorsofactivetrachomaamongchildrenof1to9yearsinlowincomecountriesofafricaasystematicreviewandmetaanalysis |