Prevalence of malaria relapse: systematic review with meta-analysis.

Authors :: Nascimento TLD
Vasconcelos SP
Peres Y
Oliveira MJS
Taminato M
Souza KMJ
Source :: Revista latino-americana de enfermagem [Rev Lat Am Enfermagem] 2019 Mar 18; Vol. 27, pp. e3111. Date of Electronic Publication: 2019 Mar 18.
Publication Year :: 2019
Abstract: Objective: systematic review with a meta-analysis of the prevalence of malaria relapse.<br />Method: it consisted in a search for cross-sectional studies, carried out in three databases, without application of filters. A total of 1,924 articles were identified, selected based on eligibility criteria. The selection was made in pairs from the reading of the titles, abstracts and text. The meta-analysis was performed with a statistical program.<br />Results: a sample of 1,308 patients with malaria, ranging from 70 to 586 patients in the study. Relapse was estimated at 0.47%, with a 95% confidence interval and 99.04% of squared i. In the included studies, the prevalence of relapse ranged from 17.00% to 92.85%. The result of the meta-analysis is considered relevant, despite the heterogeneity.<br />Conclusion: relapse is a phenomenon that can contribute to the maintenance of the endemicity of malaria in the world and to introduce it in non-affected areas. In addition, there is the need for advancement in the production of knowledge regarding this disease, to qualify the research methods on prevalence.