Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40783768›Full record

SynthesisParasites & vectors2025

Trends in the prevalence and intensity of soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infection in Ethiopia 2000 to 2023: a systematic review.

Birhan Mengistu, Rosie Maddren, Ben Collyer, Roy M Anderson

Abstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Parasites & vectors, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing 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

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. 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

4 authors.

Birhan MengistuSchool of Public Health Building, Imperial College London, 90 Wood Lane, London, W12 0BZ, UK. babtew@ic.ac.uk.
Rosie MaddrenSchool of Public Health Building, Imperial College London, 90 Wood Lane, London, W12 0BZ, UK.
Ben CollyerSchool of Public Health Building, Imperial College London, 90 Wood Lane, London, W12 0BZ, UK.
Roy M AndersonSchool of Public Health Building, Imperial College London, 90 Wood Lane, London, W12 0BZ, UK.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundSoil-transmitted helminths (STH) are a source of parasitic infections common in Ethiopia and cause stunting of growth and neurodevelopment. The aim of this review was to examine the trends in STH prevalence and intensity in Ethiopia by year, age group, and region over a period of more than two decades.

methodsA comprehensive literature review using predefined terms was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. The relevant studies were screened and reviewed, and the data were extracted and recorded in an Excel spreadsheet. A random-effects model was employed to determine the pooled prevalence. Prevalence estimates and their standard errors were extracted for each period, and pairwise comparisons of estimates between consecutive periods were performed, with P-values computed to assess the statistical significance in the changes recorded.

resultsA total of 310 studies published from 2000 to 2023, focused on STHs in Ethiopia, were included in the analysis. Of these, 298 focused on Ascaris lumbricoides, 250 on Trichuris trichiura, and 278 on hookworms. The majority of studies were conducted in the Amhara region (43.5%), followed by Oromia (26.1%). The overall prevalence of A. lumbricoides decreased from 13.8% (95% confidence interval [CI] 11.5%, 16.8%) before 2015 to 9.4% (95% CI 6.8%, 13.1%) after 2020, with a notable change observed between 2015 and 2019. In contrast, the prevalence of T. trichiura and hookworms did not show a significant change.

conclusionsProgress has been made in reducing the prevalence and intensity of A. lumbricoides, but there is still some way to go, which will require higher mass drug administration (MDA) coverage levels plus treatment of the whole community including adults, alongside water, sanitation, and hygiene (WaSH) interventions to prevent persistent reinfection.

Indexed as

HelminthiasisSoilAnimalsAscaris lumbricoidesChildEthiopiaHelminthsHumansPrevalenceTrichurisSoilA. lumbricoidesHookwormIntensityPrevalenceSTHT. trichiura

Identifiers

PMID40783768
PMCPMC12335801

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Registered trials

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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.