Magnitude and predictors of gestational trophoblastic disease in East Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Gestational Trophoblastic Disease (GTD) encompasses a spectrum of placenta-related disorders with significant health risks. Despite the varying reported prevalence rates in East Africa, no comprehensive meta-analysis has been conducted to synthesize the overall burden and predictors of GTD in this region. Following the PRISMA guidelines, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies from PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar (search period: 2000-2024). We assessed heterogeneity (I Eleven studies were included, revealing a pooled GTD magnitude of 10.5% (95% CI: 8.8-12.3; I Gestational trophoblastic disease remains a significant public health burden in East Africa, where delayed healthcare access contributes to worsened outcomes. Women with a history of gestational trophoblastic disease or high parity constitute high-risk populations that require targeted screening programs and early intervention strategies to improve their detection and management.