A B S T R A C T
Background: The incidence of hepatitis C Virus (HCV) in Somalia is still of major
epidemiological significance. This study aims to determine the prevalence of HCV in
Somalia through a systematic review and meta-analysis of published studies. Methods:
We conducted a comprehensive search across five electronic databases (Web of Science,
PubMed, ScienceDirect, Scopus, and Google Scholar) using specific keywords to
address the impact of HCV in Somalia following the Preferred Reporting Items for
Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. A meta-analysis was
performed on our eligible studies using the random effect model. Results: Our search
returned 15 eligible articles involving 1565 HCV cases in 88782 participants. These
studies, conducted between 1992 and 2023 in Somalia provided diverse data on HCV
prevalence. The overall pooled prevalence of HCV in Somalia was 3.5% (95% CI: 2.0%
- 5.9%, I²=97.4%). Subgroup analyses revealed variations in prevalence across study
designs, detection methods, and publication years. Notably, cross-sectional design had a
higher prevalence rate (4.7%) than retrospective study designs (2.3%). The detection
methods also influenced prevalence rates, PCR having the highest incidence rate (4.4%)
and PCR/ELISA having the lowest estimate (2.2%). The year of publication significantly
influenced the prevalence of HCV in Somalia at P<0.001. Conclusion: The study
highlights the significant burden of HCV in Somalia. The findings underscore the need
for targeted public health interventions and improved surveillance to manage and control
HCV infection in Somalia and other African countries.