Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40644528›Full record

SynthesisPLoS neglected tropical diseases2025

Traditional medicine use among rabies exposed individuals in Ethiopia: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Gizew Dessie Asres, Yeshiwork Kebede Gessesse, Desalew Salew, Negese Sewagegn Semie, Etsegenet Kindie, Molalign Tarekegn Minwagaw, Wudu Tafere, Zewudu Belay, Habtamu Alebachew, Getasew Mulat Bantie and 1 more

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in PLoS neglected tropical diseases, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Gizew Dessie AsresHealth Research Development Directorate, Amhara Public Health Institute, Bahir Dar, Amhara, Ethiopia.ORCID 0000-0002-3979-3998
Yeshiwork Kebede GessesseIntegrated Oby-Gyn Emergency Surgeon, Durbete primary Hospital, Durbete, Amhara, Ethiopia.
Desalew SalewHealth Research Development Directorate, Amhara Public Health Institute, Bahir Dar, Amhara, Ethiopia.
Negese Sewagegn SemieHealth Research Development Directorate, Amhara Public Health Institute, Bahir Dar, Amhara, Ethiopia.
Etsegenet KindieRegional Data Management Center Directorate Director, Amhara Public Health Institute, Bahir Dar, Amhara, Ethiopia.
Molalign Tarekegn MinwagawHealth Research Development Directorate, Amhara Public Health Institute, Bahir Dar, Amhara, Ethiopia.
Wudu TafereHuman Rabies Laboratory Focal, Amhara Public Health Institute, Bahir Dar, Amhara, Ethiopia.
Zewudu BelayAnimal Rabies Focal, Amhara Livestock and Fishery Resource Development Office, Bahir Dar, Amhara, Ethiopia.
Habtamu AlebachewOne Health Focal, Amhara Public Health Institute, Bahir Dar, Amhara, Ethiopia.
Getasew Mulat BantieRegional Data Management Center Directorate, Amhara Public Health Institute, Bahir Dar, Amhara, Ethiopia.
Taye ZeruHealth Research Development Directorate, Amhara Public Health Institute, Bahir Dar, Amhara, Ethiopia.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundWorldwide, traditional medicine (TM) is an important and often underestimated part of health services. TM, of proven quality, safety, and efficacy, contributes to the goal of universal health coverage. However, no TM is approved worldwide for rabies treatment. Rabies is almost 100% fatal once symptomatic, leading to acute encephalitis. The challenges of rabies prevention and control in Ethiopia are multifaceted. Successful prevention and control of rabies requires the collaboration of important stakeholders with the One Health approach. But in Ethiopia, the one health model has missed a very important player in rabies control intervention, the traditional healers. This review aims to assess the proportion of individuals visiting traditional healers to provide evidence-based recommendation.

methodWe prepared a review protocol per Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) manual for evidence synthesis and conducted a comprehensive search of PubMed, Cochrane, Google Scholar and African Index Medicus databases and grey literature from 17 December 2023-30 January 2024. The pooled proportion of traditional medicine use among rabies-exposed individuals was computed using R v 4.3.1 software. Subgroup analysis was done on sample size, geographical location and year of publication. Publication bias was assessed using a funnel plot.

resultThe pooled proportion of traditional medicine use following rabies exposure was 0.57 at 95% CI (0.45-0.69) for the random effects model with I2 = 98% and p < 0.01. To investigate the source of heterogeneity, sub-group analysis has been done on sample size, study area, and year of publication. All the above-listed variables were significant sources of statistical heterogeneity. Of which year of publication from 2019-2023 (I2 = 99%, p < 0.01), Studies from Oromia regional state (I2 = 99%, p < 0.01) and study sample size >500 (I2 = 99%, p < 0.01) were the highest source of heterogeneity.

conclusionMore than half of rabies-exposed individuals visit traditional healers. This implies that significant healthcare demand related to rabies is addressed by traditional healers, even though the quality is not yet audited. The EMOH in collaboration with partners should work on the integration of traditional healers for rabies prevention and control interventions as One Health stakeholder.

Indexed as

Medicine, TraditionalRabiesAnimalsEthiopiaHumans

Identifiers

PMID40644528
PMCPMC12273941

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.