SynthesisPLoS neglected tropical diseases2026
Shared risk factors for malaria and schistosomiasis co-infection: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Synthesis in PLoS neglected tropical diseases, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled 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.
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.
Who cites it
1 citing paper in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Shared risk factors for malaria and schistosomiasis co-infection: A systematic review and meta-analysis.PLoS neglected tropical diseases · 2026Pooled it
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
4 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundMalaria and schistosomiasis are co-endemic across sub-Saharan Africa, where both diseases often co-occur, yet the shared risk factors for co-infection remain poorly synthesized.
methodsWe conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to identify shared risk factors for malaria-Schistosoma co-infection and to narratively synthesize the statistical methodologies applied in the literature. We searched PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, Global Index Medicus, and Global Health from inception to February 19, 2025 (PROSPERO CRD420250648824). We pooled effect sizes for risk factors across sociodemographic, environmental, and behavioral dimensions. Fixed-effects meta-analysis with inverse variance weighting was used to calculate pooled Odds Ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Study quality was assessed using a modified version of the Quality Assessment tool for Observational Cohort and Cross-Sectional Studies by the National Institutes of Health.
resultsWe screened 1,345 records and included 30 studies conducted across 12 African countries. A meta-analysis of 23 studies showed that schistosomiasis infection was associated with 1.27 times higher odds of malaria (OR 1.27; 95% CI: 1.17-1.39). Narrative synthesis identified age as an important predictor, with risk consistently peaking in older children and adolescents (typically 8-17 years). Associations with sex were setting-dependent: males had significantly higher odds of co-infection in community-based studies (OR 2.08; 95% CI: 1.64-2.63), whereas no significant association was found in school-based studies (OR 0.87; 95% CI: 0.64-1.19). Direct water contact was strongly associated with co-infection (OR 2.53; 95% CI: 1.60-4.00). Heterogeneity was high (I2 > 80%), warranting caution during interpretation. Only one study was categorized as high risk of bias.
conclusionThe association between malaria and schistosomiasis appears to be associated with overlapping environmental and behavioral exposures, specifically water contact in older children.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
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.