Sexually transmitted infections in the middle east and North Africa: comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis
Abstract Background Globally, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) collectively cause 2.3 million deaths and 1.2 million cases of cancer annually. However, the epidemiology of STIs in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) is not well assessed because of various social and cultural factors. Metho...
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BMC
2024-11-01
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| Series: | BMC Infectious Diseases |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-024-10153-1 |
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| author | Dalia Obeid Feda Alsuwairi Rawan Alnemari Ahmed Al-Qahtani Wesam Kurdi Manal Alfareh Madain Alsanea Maha Alabdulkareem Layla Alharbi Fatimah S. Alhamlan |
| author_facet | Dalia Obeid Feda Alsuwairi Rawan Alnemari Ahmed Al-Qahtani Wesam Kurdi Manal Alfareh Madain Alsanea Maha Alabdulkareem Layla Alharbi Fatimah S. Alhamlan |
| author_sort | Dalia Obeid |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Globally, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) collectively cause 2.3 million deaths and 1.2 million cases of cancer annually. However, the epidemiology of STIs in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) is not well assessed because of various social and cultural factors. Methods A systematic review was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines and covering 23 MENA countries, 19 STIs, and data from 20,435,971 participants. PubMed, Embase, regional and international databases, and country-level reports were searched up to May 2024. Results The analysis revealed significant regional variations in the prevalence of STIs within the MENA region. In North Africa, the most common STIs were bacterial vaginosis (31%), human papillomavirus (HPV, 23%), and Candida spp. (15%). In the Gulf Cooperation Council region and Yemen, Ureaplasma (25%), nongonococcal urethritis (NGU, 16%), and Mycoplasma spp. (12%) were the predominant infections. In the Levant region, the top STIs were HPV (20%), hepatitis B virus (HBV, 9%), and Candida spp. (9%). In Iran, Ureaplasma spp. (18%), HPV (17%), and cytomegalovirus (8%) were the most prevalent infections, whereas Ureaplasma spp. (20%), Candida spp. (18%), and HPV (16%) were most frequently detected in Türkiye. Gender-based disparities were observed, with a higher prevalence of Ureaplasma spp., Neisseria gonorrhoeae, and herpes in men and higher rates of Mycoplasma spp., HPV, HBV, and Candida spp. in women. Overall, high rates of nongonococcal urethritis (16.3%), Ureaplasma spp. (13.7%), HPV (12.7%), and Candida spp. (9.4%) were recorded in the MENA region. Conclusions Most MENA countries lack national STI screening programs, and the reported data are primarily from symptomatic individuals. Establishing robust surveillance systems, addressing stigma and barriers to healthcare access, and expanding STIs screening and vaccination programs are crucial for accurately capturing the true burden of STIs in MENA countries. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-4511ecbf13714fc9bbbbec7275c6dae5 |
| institution | OA Journals |
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| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-11-01 |
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| series | BMC Infectious Diseases |
| spelling | doaj-art-4511ecbf13714fc9bbbbec7275c6dae52025-08-20T02:18:15ZengBMCBMC Infectious Diseases1471-23342024-11-0124112310.1186/s12879-024-10153-1Sexually transmitted infections in the middle east and North Africa: comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysisDalia Obeid0Feda Alsuwairi1Rawan Alnemari2Ahmed Al-Qahtani3Wesam Kurdi4Manal Alfareh5Madain Alsanea6Maha Alabdulkareem7Layla Alharbi8Fatimah S. Alhamlan9Department of Infection and Immunity, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research CenterDepartment of Infection and Immunity, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research CenterGenome of Infectious Diseases Department, Public Health AuthorityDepartment of Infection and Immunity, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research CenterDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research CenterResearch and Advocacy, Rofaida Women’s Health OrganizationDepartment of Infection and Immunity, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research CenterDepartment of Infection and Immunity, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research CenterDepartment of Infection and Immunity, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research CenterDepartment of Infection and Immunity, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research CenterAbstract Background Globally, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) collectively cause 2.3 million deaths and 1.2 million cases of cancer annually. However, the epidemiology of STIs in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) is not well assessed because of various social and cultural factors. Methods A systematic review was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines and covering 23 MENA countries, 19 STIs, and data from 20,435,971 participants. PubMed, Embase, regional and international databases, and country-level reports were searched up to May 2024. Results The analysis revealed significant regional variations in the prevalence of STIs within the MENA region. In North Africa, the most common STIs were bacterial vaginosis (31%), human papillomavirus (HPV, 23%), and Candida spp. (15%). In the Gulf Cooperation Council region and Yemen, Ureaplasma (25%), nongonococcal urethritis (NGU, 16%), and Mycoplasma spp. (12%) were the predominant infections. In the Levant region, the top STIs were HPV (20%), hepatitis B virus (HBV, 9%), and Candida spp. (9%). In Iran, Ureaplasma spp. (18%), HPV (17%), and cytomegalovirus (8%) were the most prevalent infections, whereas Ureaplasma spp. (20%), Candida spp. (18%), and HPV (16%) were most frequently detected in Türkiye. Gender-based disparities were observed, with a higher prevalence of Ureaplasma spp., Neisseria gonorrhoeae, and herpes in men and higher rates of Mycoplasma spp., HPV, HBV, and Candida spp. in women. Overall, high rates of nongonococcal urethritis (16.3%), Ureaplasma spp. (13.7%), HPV (12.7%), and Candida spp. (9.4%) were recorded in the MENA region. Conclusions Most MENA countries lack national STI screening programs, and the reported data are primarily from symptomatic individuals. Establishing robust surveillance systems, addressing stigma and barriers to healthcare access, and expanding STIs screening and vaccination programs are crucial for accurately capturing the true burden of STIs in MENA countries.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-024-10153-1STIsMENAHIVHPVHCVHBV |
| spellingShingle | Dalia Obeid Feda Alsuwairi Rawan Alnemari Ahmed Al-Qahtani Wesam Kurdi Manal Alfareh Madain Alsanea Maha Alabdulkareem Layla Alharbi Fatimah S. Alhamlan Sexually transmitted infections in the middle east and North Africa: comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis BMC Infectious Diseases STIs MENA HIV HPV HCV HBV |
| title | Sexually transmitted infections in the middle east and North Africa: comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis |
| title_full | Sexually transmitted infections in the middle east and North Africa: comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis |
| title_fullStr | Sexually transmitted infections in the middle east and North Africa: comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Sexually transmitted infections in the middle east and North Africa: comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis |
| title_short | Sexually transmitted infections in the middle east and North Africa: comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis |
| title_sort | sexually transmitted infections in the middle east and north africa comprehensive systematic review and meta analysis |
| topic | STIs MENA HIV HPV HCV HBV |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-024-10153-1 |
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