1. Malaria prevalence in Mauritania: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
- Author
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El Moustapha I, Ouldabdallahi Moukah M, Ould Ahmedou Salem MS, Brahim K, Briolant S, Basco L, and Ould Mohamed Salem Boukhary A
- Subjects
- Humans, Prevalence, Mauritania epidemiology, Plasmodium vivax, Plasmodium falciparum, Malaria epidemiology, Malaria, Vivax epidemiology, Malaria, Vivax diagnosis, Plasmodium, Malaria, Falciparum epidemiology, Malaria, Falciparum diagnosis
- Abstract
Background: Understanding malaria epidemiology is a critical step toward efficient malaria control and elimination. The objective of this meta-analysis was to derive robust estimates of malaria prevalence and Plasmodium species from studies conducted in Mauritania and published since 2000., Methods: The present review followed the PRISMA guidelines. Searches were conducted in various electronic databases such as PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus. To obtain pooled prevalence of malaria, meta-analysis was performed using the DerSimonian-Laird random-effects model. Methodological quality of eligible prevalence studies was assessed using Joanna Briggs Institute tool. Inconsistency and heterogeneity between studies were quantified by the I
2 index and Cochran's Q test. Publication bias was assessed with funnel plots and Egger's regression tests., Results: A total of 16 studies with a good individual methodological quality were included and analysed in this study. The overall random effects pooled prevalence of malaria infection (symptomatic and asymptomatic) across all included studies was 14.9% (95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 6.64, 25.80, I2 = 99.8%, P < 0.0001) by microscopy, 25.6% (95% CI: 8.74, 47.62, I2 = 99.6%, P < 0.0001) by PCR and 24.3% (95% CI: 12.05 to 39.14, I2 = 99.7%, P < 0.0001) by rapid diagnostic test. Using microscopy, the prevalence of asymptomatic malaria was 1.0% (95% CI: 0.00, 3.48) against 21.46% (95% CI: 11.03, 34.21) in symptomatic malaria. The overall prevalence of Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax was 51.14% and 37.55%, respectively. Subgroup analysis showed significant variation (P = 0.039) in the prevalence of malaria between asymptomatic and symptomatic cases., Conclusion: Plasmodium falciparum and P. vivax are widespread in Mauritania. Results of this meta-analysis implies that distinct intervention measures including accurate parasite-based diagnosis and appropriate treatment of confirmed malaria cases are critical for a successful malaria control and elimination programme in Mauritania., (© 2023. The Author(s).)- Published
- 2023
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