Pan African Medical Journal
Journal / Pan African Medical Journal / Vol. 38 No. 1 (2021) / Articles

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Published:

Mar 8, 2021

Keywords:

Prevalence; rheumatic heart disease; school children; East Africa

Issue

Vol. 38 No. 1 (2021)

Section

Articles

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Melaku Bimerew

Department of Nursing, College of Health Sciences, Woldia University, Woldia, Ethiopia

Biruk Beletew

Department of Nursing, College of Health Sciences, Woldia University, Woldia, Ethiopia

Addisu Getie

Department of Nursing, College of Health Sciences, Woldia University, Woldia, Ethiopia

Adam Wondmieneh

Department of Nursing, College of Health Sciences, Woldia University, Woldia, Ethiopia

Getnet Gedefaw

Department of Midwifery, College of Health Sciences, Woldia University, Woldia, Ethiopia

Asmamaw Demis

Department of Nursing, College of Health Sciences, Woldia University, Woldia, Ethiopia

Abstract

Introduction: conducting researches and estimating the prevalence of rheumatic heart disease in school children is crucial to develop school-based strategies targeted to decrease the prevalence of this disease. Therefore, this systematic review and meta-analysis were aimed to estimate the overall prevalence of rheumatic heart disease (RHD) among school children in East Africa.

Methods: PubMed/MEDLINE, Google Scholar, Cochrane review, African Journals Online and African Index Medicus databases were searched to identify relevant research articles. The overall prevalence of rheumatic heart disease was pooled based on the weighted inverse variance random-effects model at a 95% confidence interval. The presence of heterogeneity, sensitivity analysis and presence of publication bias was tested. Results were presented with narrative synthesis, tables and forest plots.

Results: a total of thirteen research articles were included in the final analysis. The pooled prevalence of rheumatic heart disease in East African school children was 1.79% (17.9 cases per 1000 children (95% CI=11.6, 24.2; I²=95.1%; p<0.001)). From the subgroup analysis conducted by publication year, a lower prevalence of RHD in school children was reported among studies published after 2015 (six studies; overall prevalence=1.17% (11.7 cases per 1000 school children); with 95% CI=0.60, 1.73%; I²=88.8%; p<0.001). Additionally, the horn of Africa was found to have the lowest prevalence of RHD in school children among East African countries (six studies; overall prevalence=1.59% (15.9 cases per 1000 school children); with 95% CI=0.68, 2.51%; I²=94.2%; p<0.001).

Conclusion: the prevalence of rheumatic heart disease (RHD) among school children in East Africa was considerably higher than the results from high-income countries. Therefore, community education on strep throat and its complications should be implemented through mass media. Rheumatic heart disease preventive strategies should be integrated with schools to reduce the prevalence of RHD among school children.

Journal Identifiers

eISSN: 1937-8688