Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 3, 2025
Mouse Model of Pressure Ulcers After Spinal Cord Injury
Published on: March 9, 2019
Prevalence of pressure ulcers in africa: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Denis Anthony1, Dalyal Alosaimi2, Wondimeneh Shibabaw Shiferaw3
1Health and Social Care Research Centre, University of Derby, UK.
Insights
Pressure ulcer prevalence in Africa is comparable to global rates, with higher incidence in spinal cord injury units. Further research is needed to improve reporting standards for pressure ulcer studies across the continent.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
- Nursing Research
Background:
- A global review highlighted a lack of studies on pressure ulcers in Africa.
- This study addresses the gap in understanding pressure ulcer epidemiology on the continent.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence and incidence of pressure ulcers within African populations.
- To synthesize existing data on pressure ulcer rates across various settings in Africa.
Main Methods:
- A systematic review following PRISMA guidelines was conducted.
- Searches included Embase, Medline, Scopus, CINAHL, Google Scholar, African databases, and grey literature.
- Studies published since 2000 reporting pressure ulcer prevalence or incidence in any age group or setting were included.
Main Results:
- Nineteen studies met the inclusion criteria.
- Pooled prevalence for general hospital units (grades II-IV) was 11%, with higher rates (44%) in spinal injury units.
- Prevalence rates in general units ranged from 3.4% to 18.6%.
Conclusions:
- Pressure ulcer prevalence in Africa is similar to that reported in Europe and globally for hospitalized patients.
- Prevalence in spinal cord injury patients aligns with findings from developing countries.
- Improved study design and reporting, adhering to established guidelines, are recommended for future research.
Background:
A recent global review of pressure ulcers contained no studies from Africa.
Objective:
To identify the prevalence and incidence of pressure ulcers in Africa.
Data Sources:
Bibliographic databases, African specific databases, grey literature.
Study Eligibility Criteria:
Studies with prevalence or incidence data of pressure ulcers from Africa since the year 2000.
Participants:
Any age, including children, in any setting, specifically including hospital patients from any clinical area but not restricted to hospital settings.
Study Appraisal And Synthesis Methods:
Hoy score for bias, Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Instrument.
Method:
We followed the PRISMA guideline for systematic reviews. We searched Embase, Medline, Scopus, CINHAL, Google Scholar, specialist African databases and grey literature for studies reporting incidence or prevalence data.
Results:
Nineteen studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in the study. Point prevalence rates varied from 3.4% to 18.6% for medical/surgical and other general hospital units with a pooled prevalence of 11%, for grades II-IV 5%. For spinal injury units the pooled prevalence was 44%.
Limitations:
restricted to English, French and Arabic.
Conclusion:
Prevalence of pressure ulcers in Africa reported here is similar to figures from a recent review of prevalence in Europe and two recent global reviews of hospitalised patients. Prevalence of pressure ulcers in spinal cord injury patients is similar to figures from a review of developing countries. The reporting of prevalence is lacking in detail in some studies. Studies using an observational design employing physical examination of patients showed higher prevalence than those relying on other methods such as medical notes or databases.
Implications Of Key Findings:
Further prevalence and incidence studies are needed in Africa. Reporting of such studies should ensure items in the "Checklist for Prevalence Studies" from Joanna Briggs Institute (or similar well regarded resources) are addressed and the PICOS model and PRISMA guidelines are employed.
Systematic Review Registration Number:
Prospero registration number CRD42020180093.
More Related Videos
09:37Application of Lucilia sericata Larvae in Debridement of Pressure Wounds in Outpatient Settings
Published on: December 4, 2021
06:45Development of a Benchtop Model for Evaluating the Compatibility of Wound Dressing Materials with Negative Pressure Wound Therapy Systems
Published on: May 2, 2025
Related Concept Videos
01:26Peripheral Artery Disease IV: Nursing Management
01:22Healthcare Associated Infections II: Preventive Measures
The best practices for preventing healthcare-associated infections include hand hygiene, patient risk...
01:30Peptic Ulcer Disease I: Introduction
An acute ulcer, marked by superficial erosion and minimal inflammation, swiftly resolves upon identifying and addressing the underlying cause. In contrast, a chronic ulcer persists, potentially eroding through the muscular wall and forming fibrous tissue.
Peptic ulcers can also be...
01:28Peptic Ulcer Disease III: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies
Few clinical manifestations differentiate gastric ulcers from duodenal ulcers. Distinctions in the location, timing, and pain relief are crucial for healthcare providers in differentiating between gastric and duodenal ulcers during clinical assessments.
01:21Peripheral Arterial Disease II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Evaluation