Prevalence and associated factors of bacterial urinary tract infection in Ethiopian children: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
1
Nursing, Teda Health Science College, Gondar, Ethiopia
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
pediatric urinary tract infection (UTI) is a significant cause of morbidity, with the potential for severe long-term sequelae, including renal scarring, hypertension, and chronic kidney disease if not promptly diagnosed and treated. In Ethiopia, data on the burden and associated factors of pediatric UTIs are fragmented and derived from single-institution studies. This systematic review and meta-analysis aim to estimate the pooled prevalence of UTIs and identify its associated factors among pediatric patients in Ethiopia.
METHODS:
We conducted a systematic search of major electronic databases, including PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, and African Journals Online, for studies published up to June 2025. We included cross-sectional studies that reported the prevalence of UTIs and/or associated factors in children (age <18 years) in Ethiopia. Data were extracted using a standardized template. Data analysis utilized STATA version 17 and fixed-effects model was used to calculate the pooled prevalence with 95% confidence intervals. Heterogeneity was assessed using the I2 statistic. The review follows PRISMA guidelines.
RESULTS:
A total of 13 studies involving 3,951 children met the inclusion criteria. The pooled prevalence of UTIs among children in Ethiopia was found to be 23.17% (95% CI: 18.40%−27.93%). Heterogeneity was not observed among the studies (I2=0.0%, p<0.841). The meta-analysis of associated factors identified history of previous UTI, being malnourished, uncircumcised male, history of previous catheterization, length of hospitalization and female sex as significant predictors of UTI.
CONCLUSIONS:
This review reveals a high prevalence of bacterial UTIs among children in Ethiopia. History of previous UTI, being malnourished, uncircumcised male, history of previous catheterization, length of hospitalization and female sex are significant associated factors. These findings highlight the need for increased clinical suspicion, improved diagnostic capacity, and targeted health education for parents and caregivers to mitigate the burden and long-term consequences of pediatric UTIs in the country.
pediatric urinary tract infection (UTI) is a significant cause of morbidity, with the potential for severe long-term sequelae, including renal scarring, hypertension, and chronic kidney disease if not promptly diagnosed and treated. In Ethiopia, data on the burden and associated factors of pediatric UTIs are fragmented and derived from single-institution studies. This systematic review and meta-analysis aim to estimate the pooled prevalence of UTIs and identify its associated factors among pediatric patients in Ethiopia.
METHODS:
We conducted a systematic search of major electronic databases, including PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, and African Journals Online, for studies published up to June 2025. We included cross-sectional studies that reported the prevalence of UTIs and/or associated factors in children (age <18 years) in Ethiopia. Data were extracted using a standardized template. Data analysis utilized STATA version 17 and fixed-effects model was used to calculate the pooled prevalence with 95% confidence intervals. Heterogeneity was assessed using the I2 statistic. The review follows PRISMA guidelines.
RESULTS:
A total of 13 studies involving 3,951 children met the inclusion criteria. The pooled prevalence of UTIs among children in Ethiopia was found to be 23.17% (95% CI: 18.40%−27.93%). Heterogeneity was not observed among the studies (I2=0.0%, p<0.841). The meta-analysis of associated factors identified history of previous UTI, being malnourished, uncircumcised male, history of previous catheterization, length of hospitalization and female sex as significant predictors of UTI.
CONCLUSIONS:
This review reveals a high prevalence of bacterial UTIs among children in Ethiopia. History of previous UTI, being malnourished, uncircumcised male, history of previous catheterization, length of hospitalization and female sex are significant associated factors. These findings highlight the need for increased clinical suspicion, improved diagnostic capacity, and targeted health education for parents and caregivers to mitigate the burden and long-term consequences of pediatric UTIs in the country.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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