Systematic review and meta-analysis shows high atopic dermatitis prevalence in Ethiopia across regions

Despite being a leading contributor to the global burden of skin disease there is no information on the national prevalence of atopic dermatitis in Ethiopia. Therefore, the purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to estimate the pooled national prevalence of atopic dermatitis in Ethiopia. A computerized systematic search using multiple databases was performed in search of relevant English articles from the inception of the databases to 30 July 2023. It was done in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic review and Meta-Analysis (i.e. PRISMA) standard. R and R Studio software were used for statistical analysis. A random-effects model was used for calculating the pooled estimate of the prevalence of atopic dermatitis. Forest plots and tables were used to represent the data. We found 10 full-text observational studies with 25 920 participants suitable for the review after checking for inclusion and exclusion criteria. The overall pooled prevalence of atopic dermatitis in Ethiopia was 12.75% (95% CI 8.32 to 17.17%). The subgroup analysis found that the atopic dermatitis pooled prevalence was 7% (95% CI 3 to 10%), 17% (95% CI 4 to 30%) and 20% (95% CI 15 to 24%) in the Oromia region, Amhara region and Addis Ababa city administration, respectively. This study demonstrates that atopic dermatitis is highly prevalent in Ethiopia, affecting approximately one in eight individuals, with significant geographical variations. To effectively address this condition, it is crucial to implement awareness campaigns, prioritize specialized training for healthcare professionals, allocate resources to high-prevalence areas, establish a national registry for monitoring, develop community support programs and encourage further research, as there are currently few studies on the condition.