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Review
. 2023 Oct 6:11:20503121231200105.
doi: 10.1177/20503121231200105. eCollection 2023.

Prevalence of myopia in school-age children in Ethiopia: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Merkineh Markos Lorato  1 , Ali Yimer  2 , Fassikaw Kebede Bizueneh  2
Affiliations
Review

Prevalence of myopia in school-age children in Ethiopia: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Merkineh Markos Lorato et al. SAGE Open Med. .

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to estimate the pooled prevalence of myopia among school-age children in Ethiopia.

Methods: Eligible articles were searched from PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases. In addition, Google Scholar and reference lists of the retrieved articles were searched from 30 July 2022 to 02 January 2023. The preferred reporting of items for systematic reviews and meta-analysis was used to report the search results. Microsoft Excel was used to keep the data. The qualities of eligible studies were checked using the Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal checklist for prevalence studies. Analysis was held using STATA Version 11. The degree of heterogeneity was checked using I² statistics. The possible sources of heterogeneity were examined using meta-regression and subgroup analyses. The funnel plot and Egger's test were used to assess the potential publication bias. A correction was made for publication bias using Duval and Twee Die's trim-and-fill analysis. The systematic review registration number is PROSPERO (#CRD42022330541).

Results: We identified 21 eligible articles including 20,757 subjects. Of those participants, 10,601 (51.1%) and 10,156 (48.9%) were males and females, respectively. A total of 15,152 (73%) participants were urban residents. The estimated prevalence of myopia among school-age children in Ethiopia was found to be 5.26% (95% confidence interval: 4.09-6.42).

Conclusions: The prevalence of myopia among school-age children in Ethiopia is considerable, affecting one in 20 school-age children. Therefore, the authors recommend the stakeholders take extra steps to speed up the implementation of the school vision screening program and its integration plan into the existing school nutrition program.

Keywords: Ethiopia; Myopia; meta-analysis; prevalence; school children.

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Conflict of interest statement

The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Forest plot representing the pooled prevalence of myopia among school-age children in Ethiopia (n = 21).
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
A forest plot representing the effect of the given named study is omitted from the pooled estimate of myopia among school-age children in Ethiopia.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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