Neisseria gonorrhoeae infection is a global, significant public health problem. It is the second leading bacterial STI in sub-Saharan Africa and worldwide. As study findings on the topic are inconsistent, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to determine N. gonorrhoeae infection’s pooled prevalence in sub-Saharan Africa among reproductive-aged women.
Published studies were systematically retrieved from PubMed, Embase, CINHAL, and Science Direct. Their quality was measured using the Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal checklist for studies reporting prevalence data. The score of each included study had to meet at least 4.5 out of 9 indicators of quality.
The meta-analysis of 35 studies showed that the pooled prevalence of N. gonorrhoeae infection among reproductive-aged women in sub-Saharan Africa was 3.28%.
The study concluded that the N. gonorrhoeae infection prevalence was higher than that found in other studies carried out in the region. The results suggest that greater attention should be paid to the primary prevention of N. gonorrhoeae. We recommend implementing STI education for reproductive-aged women and the use of specific and rapid diagnostic testing for N. gonorrhoeae infection in STI clinics.
Reference: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13625187.2020.1779688
