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Leishmaniases in Ethiopia: a scoping review
Katherine O'Brien1,2, Grace Grifferty2,3, Adriana Totten4
1Department of Public Health and Health Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA obrien.kather@northeastern.edu.
BMJ Open
|June 19, 2025
Summary
Research on leishmaniasis in Ethiopia is growing, but studies on prevention, control, and health systems are limited. More research is needed for evidence-based treatment strategies to combat this disease.
Area of Science:
- Tropical Medicine
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Visceral leishmaniasis elimination efforts in East Africa necessitate understanding the research landscape in endemic countries like Ethiopia.
- Ethiopia is a high-burden country for leishmaniases, requiring a comprehensive overview of existing scientific literature.
Purpose of the Study:
- To map the breadth of leishmaniasis research conducted in Ethiopia.
- To identify research gaps and priority areas for future scientific inquiry.
- To inform strategies for visceral leishmaniasis elimination in the region.
Main Methods:
- A scoping review was conducted following JBI and PRISMA-ScR guidelines.
- Extensive database searches (PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, etc.) and registry checks were performed.
- Data extraction and synthesis were performed by two independent reviewers using a detailed codebook adapted for the Ethiopian context.
Main Results:
- A total of 639 papers on leishmaniasis in Ethiopia were included from 8698 identified articles.
- Research output has steadily increased over the last 14 years, covering diverse themes.
- Significant gaps were identified in research on prevention, control, health systems/policies, post-kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis, and randomized controlled trials. Coinfection studies comprised 14% of the research.
Conclusions:
- The volume of leishmaniasis research in Ethiopia is increasing, addressing various aspects of the disease.
- There is a critical need for enhanced research focusing on prevention, control strategies, and health systems/policy.
- High-quality studies are essential to support evidence-based treatment and management of leishmaniasis in Ethiopia.
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