Global epidemiology of diarrhea among internally displaced populations and refugee camp populations an evidence-based systematic review and meta-analysis
Abstract
Background: Diarrhea remains a significant health burden among populations affected by inadequate water and sanitation, particularly in internally displaced persons (IDPs) and refugee camp populations. This systematic review and meta-analysis aim to quantify the global prevalence of diarrhea in these vulnerable groups. The findings will inform targeted interventions and policy decisions to mitigate the health impacts in these settings.
Methods: Systematic searches were conducted from PubMed, Epistemonikos, ScienceDirect, Scopus, Web of Science, and Embase, encompassing studies published up to June 10, 2024. Microsoft Excel 2021 was used for data extraction and STATA version 17 for statistical analyses. Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) assessed the methodological quality of included studies. The random-effects model was utilized to estimate the pooled prevalence. Publication bias was evaluated through funnel plots and Egger's regression test, while heterogeneity was measured using the I² statistic. The review protocol is registered with PROSPERO (registration number: CRD42024554686).
Results: The comprehensive search yielded 23 eligible articles, representing 121,037 samples. The pooled prevalence of diarrhea was 29% (95% CI: 24%, 33%). Subgroup analyses by continents revealed notable regional variations, the pooled prevalence in Asia was 35% (95% CI: 24%, 45%), Africa 28% (95% CI: 21%, 35%), and North America 9% (95% CI: 7%, 11%). Subgroup analysis by subcontinent showed that…
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