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Meta-Analysis
. 2020 Mar 2:148:e64.
doi: 10.1017/S0950268820000618.

Enteric pathogens associated with gastroenteritis among children under 5 years in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis

T B Oppong  1 , H Yang  1 , C Amponsem-Boateng  1 , E K D Kyere  1 , T Abdulai  1 , G Duan  1 , G Opolot  1
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

Enteric pathogens associated with gastroenteritis among children under 5 years in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis

T B Oppong et al. Epidemiol Infect. .

Abstract

Gastroenteritis remains a serious health condition among children under 5 years especially in Africa. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate the aetiologic pathogens of gastroenteritis in the region. We did a systematic search for articles with original data on the aetiology of gastroenteritis and acute diarrhoea among children younger than 5 years. Pooled results were extracted and analysed in STATA version 12.0 using random-effects for statistical test for homogeneity following the guidelines provided in the Cochrane Collaboration and Preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses. Overall, viruses accounted for 50.2% of the cases followed by bacteria with 31.6% of the cases. Parasites accounted for 12.1% of the case. Rotavirus was the most common cause of acute diarrhoea in all regions resulting in 29.2% of the cases followed by E. coli (15.6%) of diarrhoeal cases and Adenovirus (10.8%). The most prevalent parasite detected was Giardia lamblia (7.3%). Acute diarrhoea remains rampant with Rotavirus still being the major pathogen responsible for the disease in children less than 5 years old despite the introduction of vaccine. It is recommended that the vaccine should be promoted much more widely in the region.

Keywords: Diarrhoea in children; diarrhoea; diarrhoeal enteric pathogens; gastroenteritis.

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Conflict of interest statement

None.

Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.
Flow chart of study selection and criteria.
Fig. 2.
Fig. 2.
Pooled estimates of Rotavirus stratified by region.
Fig. 3.
Fig. 3.
Pooled estimates of E. coli stratified by region.
Fig. 4.
Fig. 4.
Pooled estimates of Giardia lamblia stratified by region.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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