by Muluken Chanie Agimas, Mekuriaw Nibret Aweke, Berhanu Mengistu, Lemlem Daniel Baffa, Elsa Awoke Fentie, Ever Siyoum Shewarega, Aysheshim Kassahun Belew, Esmael Ali Muhammad
IntroductionMalaria is a global public health problem, particularly in sub-Saharan African countries. It is responsible for 90% of all deaths worldwide. To reduce the impact and complications associated with delayed treatment of malaria among children under five, comprehensive evidence about the magnitude and determinants of delayed treatment for malaria could be the solution. But there are no national-level studies in the Horn of Africa for decision-makers.
ObjectiveTo assess the prevalence and associated factors of delay in seeking malaria treatment among under-five children in the Horn of Africa.
MethodPublished and unpublished papers were searched on Google, Google Scholar, PubMed/Medline, EMBASE, SCOPUS, and the published articles’ reference list. The search mechanism was established using Medical Subject Heading (MeSH) terms by combining the key terms of the title. Joana Brigg’s Institute critical appraisal checklist was used to assess the quality of articles. A sensitivity test was conducted to evaluate the heterogeneity of the studies. The visual funnel plot test and Egger’s and Begg’s statistics in the random effect model were done to evaluate the publication bias and small study effect. The I2 statistics were also used to quantify the amount of heterogeneity between the included studies.
ResultsThe pooled prevalence of delayed treatment for malaria among under-five children in the Horn of Africa was 48% (95% CI: 34%–63%). History of child death (OR =2.5, 95% CI: 1.73–3.59), distance >3000 meters (OR = 2.59, 95% CI: 2.03–3.3), drug side effect (OR = 2.94, 95% CI: 1.86–4.67), formal education (OR = 0.69, 95% CI: 0.49–0.96), middle income (OR = 0.42, 95% CI: 0.28–0.63), expensiveness (OR = 4.39, 95% CI: 2.49–7.76), and affordable cost (OR = 2.13, 95% CI: 1.41–3.2) for transport were factors associated with malaria treatment delay among children.
Conclusion and recommendationsAbout one out of two parents in the Horn of Africa put off getting their kids treated for malaria. High transportation expenses, long travel times (greater than 3,000 meters) to medical facilities, and anxiety about drug side effects were major risk factors that contributed to this delay. On the other hand, a middle-class income was found to be protective of treatment delays. These results highlight how crucial it is to improve access to healthcare services, both financially and physically, to minimize delays in treating malaria in the area’s children.
This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to determine the pooled prevalence of and factors associated with work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) among low- and middle-income countries.
Databases such as PubMed/MEDLINE, CINAHL, LIVIVO, African Journals Online, African Index Medicus (AIM), HINARI, Science Direct, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Google Scholar, Semantic Scholar and Google were used to retrieve all the relevant articles. The search was carried out from 22 April 2024 to 26 June 2024. Data were analysed via STATA 17 software. With a 95% CI, this meta-analysis with a random-effects model was carried out to determine the pooled prevalence.
The study was conducted in low- and middle-income countries.
Weavers of low- and middle-income countries.
The primary outcome of this study was the prevalence of WMSD.
In this meta-analysis, a total of 21 articles with 7322 study participants were included. The pooled prevalence of WMSDs was 72.20%. Working more than 8 hours per day, working in a chair with no back support, working in an uncomfortable posture, not performing regular physical exercise, lacking knowledge of the causes of WMSD and lacking job satisfaction were factors significantly associated with WMSDs.
A high prevalence of WMSDs among weavers in low- and middle-income countries was recorded. This indicates the need to take effective intervention measures. Rigorous ergonomic training, providing lengthy breaks and building centres for physical exercise, improving workplace ergonomic design and increasing job satisfaction are recommended.
CRD42024561064.