Prevalence of Respiratory Syncytial Virus Among Children Under 5 Years of Age in Sub-Saharan Africa

Abstract

Background. Pneumonia and bronchiolitis are common childhood illnesses caused by the respiratory syncytial virus. A systematic analysis of published epidemiological data in sub-Saharan African children under the age of 5 was conducted. Methods. To retrieve literature, electronic databases, indexing services, and directories such as PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, EMBASE (Elsevier), Google Scholar, and Worldcat were utilized. Data from the included studies were extracted after screening and eligibility evaluation. Results. The pooled prevalence rate of respiratory syncytial virus was 21% (95% CI: 17, 25). Subgroup analysis based on participants’ ages showed that, prevalence was highest in children <6 months (32%). High prevalence was also found in children who were hospitalized (27%), children co-infected with HIV (28%), and children co-infected with bacteria respiratory pathogens (22%). Conclusion. The prevalence of respiratory syncytial virus infection was high in children in sub-Saharan African countries. Therefore, it should be prioritized as a major health problem.