Objective. Syphilis is one of the most imperative STIs, caused by the spirocheteTreponema pallidum. During pregnancy it is associated with disastrous health outcomes in the newborn. In sub-Saharan Africa, study findings on the prevalence of syphilis among pregnant women are highly dispersed and inconsistent. The aim of the current review is to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of syphilis in sub-Saharan Africa among pregnant women.Design. Systematic review and meta-analysis.Data Sources. Databases including MEDLINE, PubMed, Cochrane Library, Google Scholar, and HINARI and reference lists of previous prevalence studies were systematically searched for relevant literature from January 1999 to November 2018. Results were presented in forest plot, tables, and figures. Random-effects model was used for the meta-analysis. For the purpose of this review, a case of syphilis was defined as positive treponemal or nontreponemal tests among pregnant women.Data Extraction. Our search gave a total of 262 citations from all searched databases. Of these, 44 studies fulfilling the inclusion criteria and comprising 175,546 subjects were finally included.Results. The pooled prevalence of syphilis among pregnant women in sub-Saharan Africa was 2.9% (95%CI: 2.4%-3.4%). East and Southern African regions had a higher syphilis prevalence among pregnant women (3.2%, 95% CI: 2.3%-4.2% and 3.6%, 95%CI: 2.0%-5.1%, respectively) than the sub-Saharan African pooled prevalence. The prevalence of syphilis among pregnant women in most parts of the region seemed to have decreased over the past 20 years except for the East African region. However, prevalence did not significantly differ by region and time period.Conclusion. This review showed a high prevalence of syphilis in sub-Saharan Africa among pregnant women. The evidence suggests strengthening the screening program during pregnancy as part of the care package during antenatal care visits. Programs focusing on primary prevention of syphilis in women should also be strengthened.

Background: Schistosomiasis is a common helminthic infection in the tropics and subtropics, particularly in sub-Saharan African countries including Ethiopia. In these counties,Schistosoma mansoniinfection is a significant public health problem due to the risk of reinfection and recurrent disease despite implementing several rounds preventive chemotherapy. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed at assessing the pooled prevalence of schistosomiasis in Ethiopia.Methods: The PRISMA guidelines were followed to perform the systematic review and meta-analysis. Published studies from January 1999 to June 2020 were searched in Medline, PubMed, Google Scholar, EMBASE, HINARI, and Cochrane Library using key words including: “prevalence”, “incidence”, “schistosomiasis” “Bilharziasis”, “Bilharzia”, “S. mansoni“, “Ethiopia”. Heterogeneity of included studies was assessed using Cochran’s Q test andI²test statistics while publication bias was assessed using Egger’s test.Results: Ninety-four studies were included in the systematic review and meta-analysis. The pooled prevalence ofS. mansoniin Ethiopia was 18.0% (95%CI: 14.0–23.0). The southern region of Ethiopia had a higherS. mansoniprevalence of 25.9% (995% CI, 14.9–41.1) than the national prevalence. The burden ofS. mansoniinfection was also higher than the national average in rural areas and among men with pooled prevalence of 20.2% (95% CI, 13.2–28.5) and 28.5% (95%CI, 22.7,35.1), respectively. The trend analysis showed that the prevalence ofS. mansoniinfection in Ethiopia decreased over the past 15 years, potentially because of the repeated preventive chemotherapy.Conclusion: The review unveiled a moderate prevalence ofS. mansoniinfection in Ethiopia. Targeted treatment of at-risk population groups ad high burden areas coupled with implementation of integrated vector control strategies are critical to address the burden of Schistosomiasis.

Shigella species are a major cause of dysentery and may attribute for death worldwide. Currently antibiotic resistance became the critical challenges for management of infectious disease. The aim was to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of Shigella species and its drug resistance pattern in Ethiopia. A comprehensive literature search was conducted through internet searches using database of MEDLINE, PubMed, Google scholar, EMBASE, HINARI, Cochrane Library and reference lists of previous prevalence studies from January 1999 to November 2018. Results were presented in forest plot, tables and figures with 95% CI. The Cochrane Q test and I2 test statistic were used to test heterogeneity across studies. The Pooled estimate of Shigella species and its drug resistance pattern was computed by a random effects model. The pooled prevalence of Shigella species in Ethiopia was 6.6% (95% CI 4.7–8.8). In the subgroup analysis, the highest prevalence was observed among patients in Health facility (8.5%, 95% CI 6.2–11.5) whereas the lowest prevalence was observed in Community based studies (1.6%, 95% CI 0.8–3.4). In addition, Shigella species were highly resistant to ampicillin, amoxicillin, erythromycin and multi-drug resistant (MDR) with the pooled resistance proportions of 83.1% (95% CI 75.7–88.6), 84.1% (95% CI 75.6–90.1), 86.5% (95% CI 70.9–94.4) and 83.2% (95% CI 77.1–87.9), respectively. On the other hand, comparably low resistance pattern was reported for ciprofloxacin 8.9% (95% CI 6.0–12.8), ceftriaxone 9.3% (95% CI 3.9–20.5), and norfloxacin 8.2% (95% CI 3.8–16.6) and gentamycin 17.3% (95% CI 11.2–25.9). Subgroup analyses indicated that study years were associated with a decreasing Shigella prevalence over time (p = 0.002). The pooled estimate showed high burden of Shigella infection and its high proportion of drug resistance pattern to ampicillin, amoxicillin and erythromycin in Ethiopia. Therefore, initiating and scale up of performing drug susceptibility test for each shigellosis case, educate the community and health care providers on appropriate use of antibiotics need to be considered and strengthened.

Disrespectful and abusive behavior during childbirth and maternity care is violation of fundamental right of women and unborn child. There is scarce of data on disrespectful and abusive behavior during childbirth and maternity care in Ethiopia. The aim of this study was to determine disrespectful and abusive behavior during childbirth and maternity care in Ethiopia. Seven studies were included in this meta-analysis of disrespectful and abusive behavior during childbirth and maternity care. The pooled prevalence of disrespect and abuse care during childbirth and maternity care was 49.4% (95% CI 30.9–68.1). Whereas physical abuse was 13.6% (95% CI 5.2–31.2), non-confidential care was 14.1% (95% CI 7.3–25.4), abandonment care was 16.4% (95% CI 14.7–18.2), and detention was 3.2% (95% CI 0.9–11.5). This study showed that disrespectful and abusive behavior during child birth and maternity care is high. Whereas, abandonment care is high. This study indicates that health care providers shall not leave women during childbirth and maternity care and listen women, federal minister of health and regional health bureau also identifying root of cause disrespect and abuse and to alleviate mistreatment during childbirth and maternity care.

Chlamydia trachomatis is the most common curable sexual transmitted bacterial infection in the world, including Sub-Saharan Africa. There is nil systematic review and meta-analysis on Chlamydia trachomatis infection in Sub-Saharan Africa among reproductive age women. Therefore, this study was carried out to determine the pooled prevalence of chlamydia trachomatis infection in Sub-Saharan Africa among reproductive age women. A comprehensive literature search was conducted from biomedical data bases: Medline, PubMed, EMBASE, Google scholar, HINARI and Cochrane Library using a special index search terms (medical subject headings (MeSH), title and The Cochrane Q test and I2 statistics was used to test heterogeneity and publication bias was assessed using Begg’s and Egger’s tests. Results were presented in tables, figures and funnel plot. Data were pooled in a meta-analysis using a random effects model. Twenty-four studies were included in this meta–analysis. There was a high level of heterogeneity among studies. The pooled prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis infection in Sub-Saharan Africa among reproductive age women was 7.8% (95% CI: 5.6–10.6). This review showed that Chlamydia trachomatis infection is high in Sub-Saharan Africa among reproductive age group women. This evidence suggests that governmental and non-governmental organization shall give attention for primary prevention of this infection. Likewise, in resource limited countries policy makers, stakeholders and health care providers’ due attention for Chlamydia trachomatis specific and rapid diagnostic test, treatment in any medical out and in patient clinics for reproductive age women.

Background: Urinary tract infection (UTI) is a common health problem occurring when infectious agents colonize, invade, and propagate the urinary tract including the urethra, bladder, renal pelvis, or renal parenchyma. The study aimed to determine the prevalence of symptomatic UTI, drug resistance pattern, and its associated factors among patients attending adult outpatient department (OPD) at Hawassa University Comprehensive Specialized Hospital (HUCSH). Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from October 2018 to February 2019 among adults ≥ 18 years old with symptoms of UTI. Processing of specimens for culture and identification was done. Antimicrobial susceptibility was done for positive urine cultures. Data entry and analysis were performed using SPSS version 23.0 software. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis test results were used. Results: The overall prevalence of symptomatic urinary tract infection was 32.8% (95% CI: 28.3– 37.6). The predominant isolated bacteria was E. coli 46 (36.2%) followed by S. aureus 21 (16.5%). Gram-negative bacteria were a high level of resistance to ampicillin (71.4%), and tetracycline (68.2%). Gram-positive bacteria were highly resistant to norfloxacin (77.7%). The overall prevalence of multi-drug resistant isolates was 102 (80.3%). Being female, no formal education, and self-medication history had more likely cause UTI. Conclusion: Urinary tract infection (UTI) among adults was prevalent in the study area. Being female, educational status and self-medication history had a significant association with UTI. Resistance to ampicillin, tetracycline, and norfloxacin was high. Therefore, culture and antibiotic susceptibility testing should be routinely used for the proper management of patients with UTI.